CELL FUNCTIONS IN DROSOPHILA OOGENESIS

We are studying Drosophila oogenesis by analysing at genetic and molec ular levels several female-sterile mutations. Some (hold up, wavoid-li ke and abnormal oocyte) have been isolated by L. Sandler in region 32 of the second chromosome; others have been isolated by us and their ph enotype is presented for the first time in this paper. We performed ch romosome walking in 32D-32E-F (250 Kb) and 32A-B (100 Kb) and in the l ast years we molecularly identified several genes with specific matern al expression patterns. We will review here our studies on two of thes e genes: the Vitelline Membrane Protein gene 32E and the gene coding f or a receptor form of Guanylate Cyclase.