centrosome & neuroblast
mitotic cell cycle & neuroblast
Affected cells have additional centrosomes and mitotic defects.
The majority of hemizygous mutant neuroblasts exhibit an excessive number of centrosomes. Diploid cells are observed that contain more than two and as many as seventeen centrosomes. Polyploid giant neuroblasts are also observed in mutant brain discs and they contain far greater numbers of centrosomes than predicted by failure in cleavage alone. 74% of those cells with abnormal numbers of centrosomes have even numbers of centrosomes. Despite such aberrant centrosomes, the spindles remain bipolar. The number of S phase cells in mutants is also decreased.
Lethality is revertable by excision of the P{lacW} insertion.