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Fc177, A Minor Dec-1 Proprotein, Is Necessary To Prevent Ectopic Aggregation Of The Endochorion During Eggshell Assembly In Drosophila, Debra Kay Mauzy-Melitz, Gail L. Waring

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

The Drosophila eggshell is a highly specialized extracellular matrix that forms between the oocyte and the surrounding epithelial follicle cells during late oogenesis. The dec-1 gene, which is required for proper eggshell assembly, produces three proproteins that are cleaved within the vitelline membrane layer to multiple derivatives. The different spatial distributions of the cleaved derivatives suggest that they play distinct roles in eggshell assembly. Using extant dec-1 mutations in conjunction with genetically engineered dec-1 transgenes, we show that, although all three dec-1 proproteins, fc106, fc125, and fc177, are required for female fertility, gross morphological abnormalities in the eggshell are observed …