The Drosophila serendipity alpha (sry alpha) gene is specifically transcribed at the blastoderm stage, from nuclear cycle 11 to the onset of gastrulation, in all somatic nuclei [1]. SRY-A is required for the cellularisation of the embryo and is involved in the localisation of the actin filaments just prior to and during plasma membrane invagination [2]. This family forms a different clade of the Vinculin superfamily with an evolutionary relationship that is functionally consistent with a role for sry alpha at the actin cortex during cellularization [3].

1: The serendipity alpha gene encodes a membrane-associated protein required for the cellularization of the Drosophila embryo. Schweisguth F, Lepesant JA, Vincent A; Genes Dev 1990;4:922-931. PMID:2166703

2: Relationship between expression of serendipity alpha and cellularisation of the Drosophila embryo as revealed by interspecific transformation. Ibnsouda S, Schweisguth F, de Billy G, Vincent A; Development 1993;119:471-483. PMID:8287797

3: The maternal-to-zygotic transition targets actin to promote robustness during morphogenesis. Zheng L, Sepulveda LA, Lua RC, Lichtarge O, Golding I, Sokac AM; PLoS Genet. 2013;9:e1003901. PMID:24244181