Identified region was deleted and replaced with a w marker gene via homologous recombination.
hmw1 mutants are viable and develop in Mendelian proportions to adulthood. Coordination and gravitaxis are not significantly impaired in mutant flies. However, sound responses are impaired in mutants: the sound particle velocities required to evoke nerve responses are increased, and the amplification gain provided by the motility of Johnston's Organ (JO) neurons is reduced, compared to wild type. No ultrastructural defects in JO neuron cilia are observed.
Seminal vesicles from hmw1 males completely lack mature spermatozoa. Flagella and elongated spermatid cysts are still present, but exhibit severe defects - axonemes show variability in their length during spermatid differentiation, and are absent or unstable in mature cysts.
Spermatid individualization is strongly affected in hmw1 mutant testes: actin cones still assemble, but progression is blocked and cones are aberrantly dispersed.
hmwT:Avic\GFP partly restores the reduced amplification gain, and completely rescues the increased sound particle velocity required to evoke nerve potentials exhibited by hmw1 mutants.
2 copies of hmwT:Avic\GFP rescues the male sterility and restores mature spermatozoa in hmw1 males.
