A carbohydrate epitope expressed uniquely on the cell surface of Drosophila neurons is altered in the mutant nac (neurally altered carbohydrate).
Antibodies against horseradish peroxidase (anti-HRP) recognize neural specific cell surface antigens in Drosophila and other insects. The nature of these antigens was investigated in Drosophila and found to include a complex set of developmentally regulated proteins. Their common epitope appears to be a carbohydrate that shares features with the sugar moiety of pineapple stem bromelain, a plant glycoprotein whose carbohydrate structure has been determined. A mutation was identified that eliminates staining by the antibody in imaginal and adult neural tissue. Tissue specific glycoconjugates, although widespread in the animal kingdom, are little understood. This mutation provides a unique opportunity to address the consequences of altering a neural specific carbohydrate moiety in an otherwise intact and behaving animal. The mutation maps to 84F. A second mutation, contained on the third chromosome balancer, TM3, eliminates anti-HRP staining in embryos. These mutations appear to be separate genes.
Katz
F
F
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9050.
Moats
W
W
Jan
Y N
YN
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D001963:Bromelains / Q000032:analysis; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004330:Drosophila; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000032:analysis; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology; D009154:Mutation; D009474:Neurons / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype; D011233:Precipitin Tests
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D002241:Carbohydrates; D000939:Epitopes; D006001:Glycoconjugates; D001963:Bromelains; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase