Using genetics to identify potential regulators of motors

Since clearing and clouding can be directly monitored in living embryos, we can easily determine if a mutation or experimental manipulation alters the net transport of yolk storage organelles.  We have used this property to identify genes required for correct regulation of droplet transport.  For example, in embryos laid by flies mutant for the klar gene, overall clearing seems indistinguishable from wild type, but embryos remain abnormally transparent (upper panels in the figure below).  A specific stain for lipid droplets (lower panels) shows that this is due to mislocalization of lipid droplets. While in wild-type embryos droplets move back into the periphery, they remain in the center in the klar mutants.


We have used abnormal clearing and clouding to test which known motors are involved in lipid-droplet transport and to perform a genetic screen to find new molecules regulating transport.