The isolation of a mutation causing abnormal cytokinesis in male and split chromocenter in female meiosis in Drosophila melanogaster

The genetic screen for the meiotic mutations showing chromosome non-disjunction in mosaic clones of female germ line generated by FLP-FRT mediated mitotic recombination was performed. The sterile meiotic mutation ff16 (69D1 - 70A2) was found among the mutants obtained. In the male germ line the mutation showed lack of meiosis I cytokinesis and other meiotic abnormalities. The sterility of the mutant is due to the lack of the sperm motility. In female germ line the morphological defects-decreased number of ovarioles and nurse cells in the egg chambers is visible. At the cell level the mutation showed karyosome fragmentation constituting to the gene participation in chromocenter formation/maintance. The cases of the spindle fragmentation revealed the processes acting in female meiotic metaphase. Premeiotic and mitotic defects of the mutation have also been detected.