TITLE:
The Mapping and Characterization of Cruella (Cru), a Novel Allele of Capping Protein α (Cpa), Identified from a Conditional Screen for Negative Regulators of Cell Growth and Cell Division
AUTHORS:
Ashley Cosenza, Jacob D. Kagey
KEYWORDS:
Capping Protein α, Apoptosis, Genetic Screen, Drosophila melanogaster
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology,
Vol.7 No.10,
September
29,
2016
ABSTRACT: A Flp/FRT EMS mutagenesis screen was conducted in the eye of Drosophila melanogaster on chromosome 2R to identify negative regulators of cell growth and cell
division. In addition to the EMS mutation in the mosaic eye, an ark loss of function
allele (ark82) was utilized to block apoptosis in the homozygous mutant cells, setting
up a screen for conditional regulators of cell growth and cell division. In the present
study, we focus on the characterization and mapping of one mutant that resulted
from this screen, Cruella (cru). A cross between flies with the flippase enzyme directed
to the developing eye and flies with the mutations cru, ark82, revealed an unusual
phenotype that resulted in the homozygous mutant tissue appearing black, in
contrast to the expected red. To map the location of this mutation, complementation
tests against the Bloomington deficiency kit were conducted. Cru failed to complement
previously characterized alleles of capping protein α (cpa). Thus, cpacru is a
novel allele of cpa and displays phenotypes similar to previously characterized alleles
such as cpa 107E, cpa 69E, and cpascrd . The human homolog, Cap Z, is conserved in
humans and serves a similar role in act in filament regulation.