Genetic rescue of muscle defects associated with a mutant Drosophila melanogaster tropomyosin allele.

Abstract

We describe a genetic transformation system which should prove useful for investigating tropomyosin assembly and function. Muscle abnormalities associated with a defective tropomyosin allele were corrected by integrating the wild-type gene into germ line chromosomes. The transformation protocol permits application of directed mutagenesis techniques in investigations of contractile regulatory mechanisms.

A non-flight muscle isoform of Drosophila tropomyosin rescues an indirect flight muscle tropomyosin mutant

“…Although not null mutants, Ifm(3)3 flies produce substantially less of the Ifm-TmI isoform than wildtype flies, and they can neither jump nor fly. Transformation of the I,fm (3)3 strain with a wildtype TmI gene restores muscle function (Fyrberg & Karlik, 1987;Tansey et al, 1987). We now report that transformation of Ifm(3)3 mutants with a tropomyosin I gene designed to express Scm-TmI in flight and jump muscles restores wildtype muscle structure and mechanical properties as well as the ability to jump and fly.…”