... of the major body axes. Genetic experiments indicate that at least two proteins, Spire (Spir) and Cappuccino (Capu), are required to build this mesh. The spire and cappuccino genetic loci were first identified as maternal effect genes in Drosophila . Mutation in either locus results in the same phenotypes...

... organization, we find that Rho1 interacts genetically and physically with the Drosophila formin homologue, cappuccino . We also show that Rho1 interacts both genetically and physically with concertina , a Gα protein involved in cell shape changes during gastrulation. * Author for correspondence (e...

... to that which occurs prematurely in cappuccino and spire mutant oocytes. After examining a number of mutants that affect the actin cytoskeleton, we have found that chickadee , which encodes the actin-binding protein, profilin, shares this phenotype. In addition to the microtubule misregulation, mutants...

... in cappuccino and spire , which permit K10 mRNA transport, but prevent subsequent anterior localization, do not disrupt the synthesis or localization of K10 protein. We also show that modified K10 transgenes that produce transcripts which are uniformly distributed throughout the oocyte, or which...