Subject: FB Help Mail: 019 Gene data (problem or question)
 comments:    To whom it may concern,
    I would like to ask you for an update on a recently identified locus that
we published (Mourikis et al. (2006). "Enigma, a mitochondrial protein
affecting lifespan and oxidative stress response in Drosophila". Proc Natl
Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Jan 31;103(5):1307-12).
    The gene described is CG9006 which we have named Enigma (Egm).
    Currently, CG9006 is named after the corresponding P-element l(2)k14708. I
would like to request to change CG9006 to Enigma (Egm) and link the
corresponding reference.
    I would also like to note that the "egm" MUTATION already exists in
Flybase (FBgn0019818), but is not linked to a locus. This is the actual
mutation that was isolated in Prof Artavanis-Tsakonas laboratory and which I
further characerized and linked to CG9006. One important correction is the
number of available alleles. Initially it there were reported 32 alleles.
Further characterization showed that all of these were clonal. The real number
of existing alleles is 4:
    A.  Egm1, null allele, larval lethal, ethyl methanesulfonate, deletion 
(-423 to  \+241 relative to the starting ATG).
    B.  EgmP (which is l(2)k14708, FBgn0021848), null allele, larval lethal,
P-element
    C. EgmH, hypomorphic allele, viable
    D. Wild Type
    Sincerely,
    Philippos Mourikis.
 realname: Philippos Mourikis
Subject: Re: FB Help Mail: 019 Gene data (problem or question)
Dear Philippos,
Many thanks for this information, which I will curate as a personal
communication from you to FlyBase.
I do have a couple of questions.  We have 31 alleles of egm tracing back to
FBrf0090844 == Verheyen et al., 1996, Genetics 144(3): 1127--1141
Table 2 of that paper states that 10 of these alleles were X ray
induced and 21 of these alleles were EMS induced.  Are you saying that
all of these have been shown with confidence to be the same molecular
lesion, and does this correspond to your 'Egm1' (point A below)? In
which case, was the X-ray statement in FBrf0090844 an error?
We can certainly merge the record for l(2)k14708/CG9006 with that of
egm, that is no problem.  I'm curious as to why you want to change
 egm:enigma  to  Egm:Enigma , since enigma was well and properly named in
FBrf0090844 and we like to use precedence for  symbols:names  unless
there is good reason not to.
Best regards,
Rachel
for FlyBase
Subject: Philippos Enigma
Dear Rachel,
thank you for the immediate and accurate response.
Confirmed by PCR and Southern analysis, the 31 alleles
referred in the
FBrf0090844 == Verheyen et al., 1996, Genetics 144(3):
1127--1141
Table 2, bear the identical molecular lesion i.e. a
small deletion in the 5' end of the locus. One can
come up with different speculations as to how this
might have happened (spontaneous mutation floating in
the parental strain, mutagenesis in an early germline
progenitor, ...).
Regardless, Egm1 corresponds to the allele(s)
mentioned above.
As for your second question, we changed egm to Egm
since we have established two DOMINANT phenotypes
linked to the locus (modification of
ey-Notchactivated and longevity).
Best regards,
Philippos Mourikis.