Genetic Mapping and Phenotypic Characterization of the Drosophila AIFe04281 Allele Reveals Mutant Clone Loss in Mosaic Eyes

As part of the Fly-CURE consortium, a mutant allele of <i>Apoptosis inducing factor</i> ( <i>AIF</i> ) was characterized using complementation mapping, genomic sequencing, and mosaic phenotypic analysis to investigate its role in cell growth control in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> . The <i>AIF ^e04281</i> mutation dramatically reduced homozygous mutant clone size and caused morphological defects in genetically mosaic eyes. Sequencing confirmed a transposon insertion that truncates the AIF protein preceding conserved domains essential for mitochondrial function and apoptosis. The observed clone loss indicates a cell-autonomous requirement for <i>AIF</i> and supports the use of <i>AIF ^e04281</i> as a loss-of-function background for genetic modifier screens on chromosome arm 2L.