Key result
Complete loss of myosin VI is not lethal in Drosophila, and the previously reported lethality of the jar322 null mutation is likely due to deletion of a neighboring gene.
Demonstrates that complete loss of myosin VI is not lethal in Drosophila, correcting previous assumptions about the jar322 mutation.
Challenges prior lethality reports for myosin VI loss in Drosophila; leaves open its essentiality in mammalian models.
Myosin VI is an actin-based motor that has been implicated in many cellular processes. Studies in vertebrates have demonstrated that animals lacking this ubiquitously expressed myosin are viable. However in Drosophila, myosin VI loss of function has been thought to be lethal. We show here that complete loss of myosin VI is not lethal in flies and that the previously reported lethality of the null mutation (jar322) is most likely due to deletion of a neighboring gene. Maternally provided myosin VI does not account for the survival of myosin VI null animals. Mutant animals are recovered at a lower than expected Mendelian frequency, suggesting that myosin VI participates in processes which contribute to normal development, but its participation is not essential.
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Morrison et al. (2008) studied Myosin VI loss of function. Myosin VI loss of function (jar322 mutant) was evaluated on Lethality / viability. Complete loss of myosin VI is not lethal in Drosophila, and the previously reported lethality of the jar322 null mutation is likely due to deletion of a neighboring gene.
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