A detailed knowledge of the processes involved in cellular determination is essential for understanding restrictions in cellular fate during development. Our specific goal has been to understand the determination of germ cells by the ooplasmic germ plasm, as a model system. In addition, we want to describe at the ultratructural level normal gastrulation in Drosophila and then to determine the nature of the defect produced by mutations affecting early development. Finally, we want to understand the mechanisms of vitellogenesis during oogenesis and yolk utilization during embryogenesis. Specifically, during the current year we intend to complete our fate-mapping of the wild-type embryo and of mutants affecting gastrulation, to characterize in detail the events occurring during oocyte activation in Drosophila, and to analyze cytological and molecularly ovary-specific vitellogenin synthesis. During early development, cells first form and then move to take on different cellular arrangements. The changes in cell surface will be analyzed by EM and immunological approaches. A number of maternal-effect mutations appear to affect these cellular movements, and these will be analyzed. A detailed molecular and immunological analysis of the early embryonic cell surfaces will be undertaken in order to provide the basis for interpreting mutant embryos. By means of experimental embroyology, our knowledge of the state of determination of cells will be determined and applied to mutants affecting gastrulation. Thus, I believe that a coordinated, structural, molecular, and genetic analysis of the Drosophila embryo is possible.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD017607-05
Application #
3314583
Study Section
Genetics Study Section (GEN)
Project Start
1982-08-01
Project End
1986-11-30
Budget Start
1985-12-01
Budget End
1986-11-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Case Western Reserve University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
077758407
City
Cleveland
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
44106
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Schonbaum, C P; Lee, S; Mahowald, A P (1995) The Drosophila yolkless gene encodes a vitellogenin receptor belonging to the low density lipoprotein receptor superfamily. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 92:1485-9
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Fredieu, J R; Mahowald, A P (1993) Characterization of a putative Drosophila GTP-binding protein. J Cell Sci 105 ( Pt 1):81-91
Mazur, P; Cole, K W; Hall, J W et al. (1992) Cryobiological preservation of Drosophila embryos. Science 258:1932-5
Degelmann, A; Hardy, P A; Mahowald, A P (1990) Genetic analysis of two female-sterile loci affecting eggshell integrity and embryonic pattern formation in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 126:427-34
LaBonne, S G; Furst, A (1989) Differentiation in vitro of neural precursor cells from normal and Pecanex mutant Drosophila embryos. J Neurogenet 5:99-104
DiMario, P J; Mahowald, A P (1987) Female sterile (1) yolkless: a recessive female sterile mutation in Drosophila melanogaster with depressed numbers of coated pits and coated vesicles within the developing oocytes. J Cell Biol 105:199-206

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