Reproduction Abstracts

In Drosophila, the testis meiotic arrest complex (tMAC) regulates the expression of a vast number of genes involved in spermatogenesis and is essential for entry into male meiosis. Among its many targets are a few putative transcription factors that could further regulate spermatogenesis genes. CG9879 is implicated as one such tMAC-induced transcription factor as it is testis-specific, tMAC-dependent, and homologous to the known transcription factors TBP, TRF and TRF2. In this project the expression pattern of CG9879was examined on a cellular level using whole mount in-situ hybridisation of testes and found to be restricted to mid-late spermatocytes. The homologues were also examined, and TRF2 was found to be expressed in earlier spermatocytes. Furthermore, the sub-cellular localisation of CG9879 protein was examined by expression of a GFP-CG9879 transgene. Contrary to expectation, GFP-CG9879 was not nuclear-enriched, casting doubt upon the putative role of CG9879 as a transcription factor.