Negative complementation at the notch locus of Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Four Abruptex alleles (AxE1, AxE2, Ax9B2, and Ax16172) have been mapped within the Notch locus. Based on their visible phenotypes and their interactions with one another and with N mutations, the Ax alleles can be divided into two groups. Heterozygous combinations of members of the same group are intermediate in phenotype compared to the respective homozygotes, whereas heterozygotes of Ax alleles from different groups exhibit negative heterosis, being much less viable and more extremely mutant than either homozygote. It is suggested that the Notch locus is a multi-functional regulator ("integrator") gene, whose product possesses both "repressor" and "activator" functions for the processes it regulates.