Insertion in the first intron of desat1. 1696bp upstream of the first ATG codon.
Heterozygotes have significantly decreased levels of 7-monoenes in males, and of 7,11-dienes in females, together with an increase in linear saturated hydrocarbons in both sexes. Levels of 7-monoenes in heterozygous females are not significantly different from wild type. Homozygous escapers are rare, but those that survive show a dramatic loss of 7-unsaturated hydrocarbons and an increase in linear saturated hydrocarbons.
Lethal phase is from the pupal stage onwards.
Although the P{lacW}desat1S028813 insertion is within desat1, desat11573-C'1 complements adult viability and the cuticular hydrocarbon phenotype of desat1S028813, indicating that both the lethality and pheromonal defect associated with this allele are perhaps not directly caused by an effect on desat1.
Excision of the P{lacW}desat1S028813 insertion reverts the mutant hydrocarbon phenotype in 18 out of 26 lines tested, but lethality has not been fully reverted, and homozygous flies have been obtained in only 3 lines. This suggests that there may be a separable lethal mutation on the "l(3)S028813" chromosome.
