Zhuk O.W., Kozeretska I.A.

The miniature gene in Drosophila virilis : maternal effect and evolutionary conservatism

Cytology and Genetics 2007, v 41, number 6, 50-55

Comparative analysis of two mutant alleles of gene miniature in Drosophila virilis has been performed. The cytological position of miniature gene on salivary gland chromosomes of Drosophila virilis using Drosophila melanogaster sequence was localized that suggests the high level of the evolutional conservatism of this gene. The necessity of the functional Min protein for fertilization has been shown. Mutant females produced unfertilized eggs that had the abnormal position on the medium surface. One of the alleles is characterized by temperature sensitive influence on the viability. The search for possible interactions among the genes of Notch signal pathway has been performed.

Key words: Drosophila, ZP proteins, fertilization, evolutionary conservatism