CG7609, a conserved SEA-complex component, is required for early oogenesis in Drosophila

Wednesday, October 10, 2012 — Poster Session II
Noon – 2:00 p.m	Natcher Conference Center, Building 45	NICHD	DEV-2

Authors

• W. Cai
• M. Lilly

Abstract

Meiosis is a variant cell cycle program for sexual reproduction in eukaryotes. We are interested in how meiosis is regulated in the context of a multicellular organism. Previously, we identified two genes, missing oocyte(mio) and Seh1 required for the maintenance of the meiotic cycle during Drosophila oogenesis. In yeast, the MIO and SEH1 proteins associate with a newly identified complex (SEA-complex) that regulates nutritional sensing and metabolism upstream of the TOR signaling pathway. RTC1 is a component of the SEA-complex in yeast and has been implicated in the regulation of the early meiotic cycle and sporulation. In this study, we find that Drosophila RTC1 homolog, CG7609, is expressed at high levels exclusively in ovaries. We also identify a P-element insertion line as a potential null allele. CG7609 null mutants are not lethal but female sterile suggesting an important oogeneic function. Intriguingly, ovarioles from CG7609 mutants have multiple defects during oogenesis including the production of the fused egg chambers that are also observed in other SEA-complex mutant alleles suggesting in the same pathway. In summary, our data strongly suggest that Drosophila RTC1 is a component of the SEA-complex and has a critical role in the regulation of meiotic progression and/or gametogenesis.

back to top