Nrx-IV46 mutants exhibit a severe dorsal closure phenotype.
Homozygous embryos have dorsal closure defects; dorsal holes are seen in the cuticle. Necrosis is seen in the salivary glands.
Transheterozygotes with Df(3L)vin8 or Df(3L)BK9 are lethal, rare adults escapers are occasionally obtained. Transheterozygous embryos with Df(3L)BK9 show a complete absence of muscle-propagation waves; 10% embryonic neuromuscular junctions fail to respond to nerve stimulation and the mean amplitude of evoked synaptic transmission of the remaining junctions is 40%-45% of wild type levels, smooth septate junctions are unaffected, pleated septate junctions lose their characteristic ladder-like septae.