Germ band extension is delayed and incomplete in bazYD hemizygotes. However, apical-basal polarity of and epithelial integrity are normal in the germband of these embryos.
Homozygous embryos derived from germ line clones exhibit severe malformations or an absence of epidermis. sdtXN bazYD double mutants exhibit abnormal zonula adherens formation and mislocalisation of membrane protein neurotactin, phenotype is stronger than baz4 single mutant. Double mutants exhibit early cell shape changes, the surface of early gastrulating embryos shows irregularly shaped cell apices and in some areas may be multilayered by mid-gastrulation. Ultimately the cells undergo a complete transformation from epidermal to a mesenchymal-like morphology.
