Study of the ref(2)P locus of Drosophila melanogaster

The ref(2)P gene of Drosophila melanogaster is implicated in sigma rhabdovirus multiplication. Two common alleles of ref(2)P are known, ref(2)P ⁰ which permits sigma virus multiplication and ref(2)P ^pwhich is restrictive for most sigma virus strains. This gene maps to the cytogenetic region 37E3-F3. Using Df(2L)E55 (=Df(2L)37D2-El;37F5-38A1), we have screened for lethal, semi-lethal and visible mutations following diepoxybutane (DEB) or ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis. Our data confirm than DEB is mor efficient than EMS at inducing deletions. The mutations obtained in this region define 14 complementation groups. One of them, l(2)37Dh, appears to be a general enhancer of Minute and Minute-like mutations. None of the mutations were allelic to the ref(2)P locus. Loss-of-function alleles of ref(2)P (called null) were selected following DEB mutagenesis. Homozygous or hemizygous ref(2)P ^nullflies are male sterile. These flies, like homozygous or hemizygous ref(2)P ⁰flies, are fully permissive for sigma virus replication. We suggest that the ref(2)P products interact with viral products, but that this interaction is not necessary for an efficient viral cycle.