Microtubule distribution reveals superficial metameric patterns in the early Drosophila embryo.
Microtubule distribution was examined in whole mounts of Drosophila embryos from the cellularization of the syncytial blastoderm (stage 6) to the completion of the gastrulation (stage 7) by fluorescence microscopy. During ventral furrow formation, the fluorescence of tubulin network was not uniform, but disposed in zebra stripes. Antibodies against alpha-tubulin showed 14 alternating pairs of darker and brighter transverse areas. The possible significance of this pattern is discussed.
Callaini
G
G
Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Siena, Italy.
D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000199:Actins / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008870:Microtubules / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000502:physiology
D000199:Actins; D014404:Tubulin