Analysis of traffic jam function during Drosophila oogenesis

traffic jam (tj) encodes a soma-specific Maf transcription factor required for morphogenesis of the gonads in Drosophila melanogaster. I examined the requirement of tj function throughout oogenesis by studying the expression of follicle cell type specific markers in tj mutant cell clones. I also examined the interaction between tj and JAK-Stat pathway genes using a variety of loss- and gain-of-function mutations. As well as regulating the expression of a number of adhesion molecules, TJ appears to be a general requirement in follicle cells for their proper differentiation throughout oogenesis. Depending on when cells lose tj , their subsequent differentiation is blocked or defective. This suggests that like other Mafs, TJ is a regulator of differentiation. Furthermore, my findings suggest that TJ interacts with the JAK-Stat pathway during oogenesis. I have also identified a possible interaction between TJ and the EGF receptor signaling pathway.