Abnormal development of the locomotor activity in yellow larvae of Drosophila: a cuticular defect?
The yellow (y) mutation of Drosophila melanogaster affects the development of behavior and morphology. We have analyzed some behavioral and morphological parameters during the development of y mutants. Wild-type third instar larvae move in straighter paths than larvae of the same age homozygous for the y mutation. At 96 h of age, the tracks of y larvae have 10 times as many loops as tracks of wild-type larvae, and at 120 h of age, y larvae show bending behavior about 2.5 times more frequently than do wild-type. Consequently, they do not disperse as much as wild-type larvae. Concomitant with the behavioral changes, the larvae present a defect in the morphology of large chaetae in the larval denticle belts, particularly of 2nd and 3rd instars, both with light and scanning electron microscopes. These results suggest that a cuticular defect is probably involved in the abnormal locomotor activity observed in y larvae of Drosophila melanogaster.
Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
N C
NC
Inestrosa
C E
CE
Sunkel
J
J
Arriagada
J
J
Garrido
R
R
Godoy-Herrera
D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006720:Homozygote; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000235:genetics*; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; C050680:y protein, Drosophila