scholarly journals TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE MUTATIONS IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER XII. THE GENETIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS OF DOMINANT LETHALS ON CHROMOSOME 3

Genetics ◽  
1973 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-458
Author(s):  
Jeanette J Holden ◽  
David T Suzuki
Keyword(s):  
Sensitive Period ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Time Of Death ◽  
Homozygous Condition ◽  
Lethal Mutations ◽  
Developmental Effects ◽  
Dominant Lethals ◽  
Embryonic Viability ◽  
Dominant Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Dominant Lethality

ABSTRACT Out of 25,000 EMS-treated third chromosomes examined, ten dominant temperature-sensitive (DTS) lethal mutations which are lethal when heterozygous at 29°C but survive at 22°C were recovered. Seven of the eight mutations mapped were tested for complementation; these mutants probably define eight loci. Only DTS-2 survived in homozygous condition at 22°C; homozygous DTS-2 females expressed a maternal effect on embryonic viability. Two of the mutant-bearing chromosomes, DTS-1 and DTS-6, exhibited dominant phenotypes similar to those associated with Minutes. Each of the seven mutants examined exhibited a characteristic phenotype with respect to the time of death at 29°C and the temperature-sensitive period during development. Only DTS-4 exhibited dominant lethality in triploid females.

scholarly journals MATERNAL-ZYGOTIC GENE INTERACTIONS DURING FORMATION OF THE DORSOVENTRAL PATTERN IN DROSOPHILA EMBRYOS

Genetics ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 615-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pat Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Early Embryo ◽  
Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Sensitive Period ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Mutant Genotype ◽  
Dominant Phenotype ◽  
Zygotic Gene ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Mutant Phenotypes ◽  
Dominant Lethality

ABSTRACT Maternal-zygotic interactions involving the three genes dorsal (dl), twist (twi) and snail (sna) are described. The results suggest that all three are involved in the process by which the dorsoventral pattern of the Drosophila embryo is established. First, the lethal embryonic mutant phenotypes are rather similar. In homozygous twi or sna embryos invagination of the ventral presumptive mesodermal cells fails to occur, and the resulting embryos are devoid of internal organs. This is very similar to the dominant phenotype described for dl; in the case of dl, however, the effect is a maternal one dependent on the mutant genotype of the female. Second, a synergistic interaction has been found whereby dominant lethality of twi  - or sna-bearing zygotes is observed in embryos derived from heterozygous dl females at high temperature. The temperature sensitivity of this interaction permitted definition of a temperature-sensitive period which is probably that of dl. This was found to extend from approximately 12 hr prior to oviposition to 2— 3 hr of embryogenesis. A zygotic action for the dl gene in addition to the maternal effect was revealed by the finding that extra doses of dl  + in the zygotes can partially rescue the dominant lethality of heterozygous twi embryos derived from heterozygous dl females. Two possible interpretations of the synergism are considered: (1) twi and sna are activated in the embryos as a result of positional signals placed in the egg as a consequence of the functioning of the dl gene during oogenesis and, thus, play a role in embryonic determination. (2) The gene products of dl  + and twi  + (or sna  +) combine to produce a functional molecule that is involved in the specification of dorsoventral pattern in the early embryo.

A Limited Number of Caenorhabditis elegans Genes Are Readily Mutable to Dominant, Temperature-Sensitive Maternal-Effect Embryonic Lethality

Genetics ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 147 (4) ◽  
pp. 1665-1674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy L Mitenko ◽  
James R Eisner ◽  
John R Swiston ◽  
Paul E Mains
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Maternal Effect ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Gain Of Function ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Lethal Mutations ◽  
Embryonic Lethal ◽  
Embryonic Lethal Mutations ◽  
Dominant Temperature Sensitive

Abstract Dominant gain-of-function mutations can give unique insights into the study of gene function. In addition, gain-of-function mutations, unlike loss-of-function alleles, are not biased against the identification of genetically redundant loci. To identify novel genetic functions active during Caenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis, we have collected a set of dominant temperature-sensitive maternal-effect embryonic lethal mutations. In a previous screen, we isolated eight such mutations, distributed among six genes. In the present study, we describe eight new dominant mutations that identify only three additional genes, yielding a total of 16 dominant mutations found in nine genes. Therefore, it appears that a limited number of C. elegans genes mutate to this phenotype at appreciable frequencies. Five of the genes that we identified by dominant mutations have loss-of-function alleles. Two of these genes may lack loss-of-function phenotypes, indicating that they are nonessential and so may represent redundant loci. Loss-of-function mutations of three other genes are associated with recessive lethality, indicating nonredundancy.

scholarly journals Genetic analysis of temperature-sensitive lethal mutants of Salmonella typhimurium.

Genetics ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 625-633 ◽  
Author(s):  
M B Schmid ◽  
N Kapur ◽  
D R Isaacson ◽  
P Lindroos ◽  
C Sharpe
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Genetic Analysis ◽  
Salmonella Typhimurium ◽  
Complex Medium ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Nonpermissive Temperature ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
Temperature Growth ◽  
Lethal Phenotype ◽  
Lethal Mutations

Abstract We have isolated 440 mutants of Salmonella typhimurium that show temperature-sensitive growth on complex medium at 44 degrees. Approximately 16% of the mutations in these strains have been mapped to 17 chromosomal locations; two of these chromosomal locations seem to include several essential genes. Genetic analysis of the mutations suggests that the collection saturates the genes readily mutable to a ts lethal phenotype in S. typhimurium. Physiological characteristics of the ts lethal mutants were tested: 6% of the mutants can grow at high temperature under anaerobic conditions, 17% can grow when the medium includes 0.5 M KCl, and 9% of the mutants die after a 2-hr incubation at the nonpermissive temperature. Most ts lethal mutations in this collection probably affect genes required for growth at all temperatures (not merely during high temperature growth) since Tn10 insertions that cause a temperature-sensitive lethal phenotype are rare.

Dominant maternal-effect mutations causing embryonic lethality in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Genetics ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
P E Mains ◽  
I A Sulston ◽  
W B Wood
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Maternal Effect ◽  
Gene Dosage ◽  
Recessive Mutation ◽  
Dominant Male ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Dominant Mutant ◽  
Embryonic Viability

Abstract We undertook screens for dominant, temperature-sensitive, maternal-effect embryonic-lethal mutations of Caenorhabditis elegans as a way to identify certain classes of genes with early embryonic functions, in particular those that are members of multigene families and those that are required in two copies for normal development. The screens have identified eight mutations, representing six loci. Mutations at three of the loci result in only maternal effects on embryonic viability. Mutations at the remaining three loci cause additional nonmaternal (zygotic) effects, including recessive lethality or sterility and dominant male mating defects. Mutations at five of the loci cause visible pregastrulation defects. Three mutations appear to be allelic with a recessive mutation of let-354. Gene dosage experiments indicate that one mutation may be a loss-of-function allele at a haploin sufficient locus. The other mutations appear to result in gain-of-function "poison" gene products. Most of these become less deleterious as the relative dosage of the corresponding wild-type allele is increased; we show that relative self-progeny viabilities for the relevant hermaphrodite genotypes are generally M/+/+ greater than M/+ greater than M/M/+ greater than M/Df greater than M/M, where M represents the dominant mutant allele.

scholarly journals Heterotaxy in Caenorhabditis : widespread natural variation in left–right arrangement of the major organs

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1710) ◽  
pp. 20150404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa R. Alcorn ◽  
Davon C. Callander ◽  
Agustín López-Santos ◽  
Yamila N. Torres Cleuren ◽  
Bilge Birsoy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Recombinant Inbred Lines ◽  
Sensitive Period ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Internal Organs ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Natural Isolates ◽  
Left Right Asymmetry ◽  
Genomic Regions

Although the arrangement of internal organs in most metazoans is profoundly left–right (L/R) asymmetric with a predominant handedness, rare individuals show full (mirror-symmetric) or partial (heterotaxy) reversals. While the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is known for its highly determinate development, including stereotyped L/R organ handedness, we found that L/R asymmetry of the major organs, the gut and gonad, varies among natural isolates of the species in both males and hermaphrodites. In hermaphrodites, heterotaxy can involve one or both bilaterally asymmetric gonad arms. Male heterotaxy is probably not attributable to relaxed selection in this hermaphroditic species, as it is also seen in gonochoristic Caenorhabditis species. Heterotaxy increases in many isolates at elevated temperature, with one showing a pregastrulation temperature-sensitive period, suggesting a very early embryonic or germline effect on this much later developmental outcome. A genome-wide association study of 100 isolates showed that male heterotaxy is associated with three genomic regions. Analysis of recombinant inbred lines suggests that a small number of loci are responsible for the observed variation. These findings reveal that heterotaxy is a widely varying quantitative trait in an animal with an otherwise highly stereotyped anatomy, demonstrating unexpected plasticity in an L/R arrangement of the major organs even in a simple animal. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Provocative questions in left–right asymmetry’.

MEIOSIS IN COPRINUS: VI. THE CONTROL OF THE INITIATION OF MEIOSIS

1974 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. C. Lu
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Mycelial Growth ◽  
Dark Period ◽  
Continuous Light ◽  
Sensitive Period ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Light Cycle ◽  
Sensitive Stage ◽  
Dark Regime

Meiosis in Coprinus lagopus is normally initiated at night under normal diurnal conditions. This timing can be shifted to 0900-1000 h by using a 16h light-8h dark regime with the light cycle commencing at 1600 h. For the initiation of meiosis, C. lagopus is temperature sensitive (35 C) under continuous light. The temperature sensitivity can be overcome by a dark period. The sensitive period occurs within 7 h of karyogmay. Only the first 2 h, however, are sensitive to light and high temperature. A shift-up to restrictive conditions before the sensitive stage effectively arrests the process leading to karyogamy. The arrest is reversible within 20 h. Upon returning to a 25 C chamber, karyogamy begins in 6 h in all basidiocarps. Thus using this technique accurate control of the initiation of meiosis can be achieved. Howeevr, prolonged arrest beyond 16 h causes the basidia to revert to mitosis and mycelial growth. The nucleolus is reduced in size and exhibits a large vacuole and a lack of granular components as shown by electron microscopy.

scholarly journals The overall rates of dominant and recessive lethal and visible mutation induced by spermatogonial X-irradiation of mice

1964 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 448-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary F. Lyon ◽  
Rita J. S. Phillips ◽  
A. G. Searle
Keyword(s):  
Personal Factors ◽  
Reciprocal Translocations ◽  
Recessive Lethal ◽  
Weaning Age ◽  
X Irradiation ◽  
Specific Locus ◽  
Dominant Lethals ◽  
Effects Of Radiation ◽  
Mutagenic Effects ◽  
Dominant Lethality

1. Hybrid (C3H♀ × 101♂) male mice were given two doses of 600 r. acute x-irradiation eight weeks apart and outcrossed at the end of their sterile period. Their fully fertile sons were outcrossed and daughters of these sons were backcrossed to them, in order to study the rates of induction in spermatogonia of dominant and recessive lethal and visible mutations, as well as dominant semi-sterility.2. F1 litter-size decreased by 15·2% at birth and 15·8% at weaning age, as compared with controls. This decrease was very largely due to dominant lethality acting at about the time of embryonic implantation. There was also a highly significant increase in the incidence of heritable semi-sterility, the estimated rate of induction of reciprocal translocations being 3·3% per gamete.3. The dominant lethality was shown to be partly a secondary consequence of induced translocation heterozygosis. The estimated overall rate of dominant lethal induction was 10·6% per gamete, with ‘primary’ dominant lethals induced at a rate of 4·0% per gamete.4. The estimated mutation rate to dominant visible mutations was 4·6 × 10-7/gamete/r., but this was based on only two mutations in the irradiated series.5. In the backcross generation there was again significantly more embryonic death in the irradiated series, mainly at the small mole stage and this was attributed to induced lethal mutation. The survival in the irradiated series was 96·80% of that in the controls and from this the rate of induction of recessive lethals was calculated to be 2·5 × 10-4/gamete/r. There was no evidence of the induction of lethals acting later than 14 days' gestation.6. The estimated rate of induction of recessive visible mutations was 1·8 × 10-5/gamete/r., but the results showed heterogeneity, probably due to personal factors.7. No significant sex-ratio differences were found.8. The results were compared with those of specific locus and other relevant experiments. The rates of induction of recessive lethal mutations and of recessive visibles were both lower than might have been expected. On these results the mouse was only 4–5 times more sensitive than Drosophila to the mutagenic effects of radiation.

scholarly journals Hybrid dysgenesis in Drosophila melanogaster: partial sterility associated with embryo lethality in the P-M system

1984 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret G. Kidwell
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Gonadal Dysgenesis ◽  
Gonadal Development ◽  
Hybrid Dysgenesis ◽  
Sensitive Period ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Hybrid Progeny ◽  
Partial Sterility ◽  
Embryo Lethality ◽  
Response To Temperature

SummaryVariable frequencies of unhatched eggs were observed to be produced by a number of F1 interstrain hybrids. This type of partial sterility resulting from F2 embryo death was found to be associated with the P-M system of hybrid dysgenesis. Dysgenic hybrid progeny of crosses between M strain females and P strain males may therefore have reduced fertility due to the disruption of development at two different stages: early F1 gonadal development and early F2 embryo development. These disruptions result in the previously described F1 gonadal dysgenesis (GD sterility) and F2 embryo lethality (EL sterility) respectively. The two morphologically distinct types of P-M-associated sterility differ in their patterns of response to F1 developmental temperature, and the temperature-sensitive period for EL sterility occurs considerably later in F1 development than for GD sterility. EL sterility is similar to SF sterility, which is associated with the I–R system of hybrid dysgenesis in that both result from death during early F2 embryogenesis. However, EL sterility differs from SF sterility in not being restricted to hybrids of the female sex and in showing different patterns of response to temperature and ageing in the F1 generation. Some implications of the existence of EL sterility for methods of strain classification in the I–R system are explored.

scholarly journals Functional Analysis of Cytoplasmic Dynein Heavy Chain in Caenorhabditis elegans with Fast-acting Temperature-sensitive Mutations

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 1200-1212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane J. Schmidt ◽  
Debra J. Rose ◽  
William M. Saxton ◽  
Susan Strome
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Heavy Chain ◽  
Metaphase Plate ◽  
Cytoplasmic Dynein ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Permissive Temperature ◽  
Timely Initiation ◽  
Dynein Heavy Chain ◽  
Dominant Temperature Sensitive

Cytoplasmic dynein, a minus-end–directed microtubule motor, has been implicated in many cellular and developmental processes. Identification of specific cellular processes that rely directly on dynein would be facilitated by a means to induce specific and rapid inhibition of its function. We have identified conditional variants of a Caenorhabditis elegans dynein heavy chain (DHC-1) that lose function within a minute of a modest temperature upshift. Mutant embryos generated at elevated temperature show defects in centrosome separation, pronuclear migration, rotation of the centrosome/nucleus complex, bipolar spindle assembly, anaphase chromosome segregation, and cytokinesis. Our analyses of mutant embryos generated at permissive temperature and then upshifted quickly just before events of interest indicate that DHC-1 is required specifically for rotation of the centrosome/nucleus complex, for chromosome congression to a well ordered metaphase plate, and for timely initiation of anaphase. Our results do not support the view that DHC-1 is required for anaphase B separation of spindle poles and chromosomes. A P-loop mutation identified in two independent dominant temperature-sensitive alleles of dhc-1, when engineered into the DHC1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, conferred a dominant temperature-sensitive dynein loss-of-function phenotype. This suggests that temperature-sensitive mutations can be created for time-resolved function analyses of dyneins and perhaps other P-loop proteins in a variety of model systems.

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