The indirect flight muscles (IFMs) of Drosophila melanogaster provide a good model for understanding muscle development and function in vivo. We show that two missense mutations in the rod region of the myosin heavy-chain gene, Mhc, give rise to IFM defects and abnormal myofibrils. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that these mutations may produce localized rod instabilities. We conclude that the aberrant myofibrils are a result of thick filament defects. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2012.02.025
