title: Haemocytes accumulate collagen transcripts during Drosophila melanogaster metamorphosis.
abstract: We report a direct examination of the expression of one collagen gene (DCg1) during Drosophila melanogaster metamorphosis, based on data from in situ hybridization. The transcripts of this gene, thought to encode a basement membrane type IV collagen, are mainly accumulated during ecdysis in wandering haemocytes. Our results demonstrate that haemocytes contribute to extracellular matrix deposition and seem to perform a fibroblastic function during Drosophila development.
authors.affiliation: Faculté des Sciences de Luminy, Laboratoire de Biologie de la Différenciation Cellulaire, Case 901, F-13288, Marseille Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Knibiehler
authors.affiliation: Faculté des Sciences de Luminy, Laboratoire de Biologie de la Différenciation Cellulaire, Case 901, F-13288, Marseille Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mirre
authors.affiliation: Faculté des Sciences de Luminy, Laboratoire de Biologie de la Différenciation Cellulaire, Case 901, F-13288, Marseille Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Jean -Pierre
authors.initials: J-
authors.lastname: Cecchini
authors.affiliation: Faculté des Sciences de Luminy, Laboratoire de Biologie de la Différenciation Cellulaire, Case 901, F-13288, Marseille Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Yannick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Le Parco
keywords: Basement membranes; Collagen; Drosophila; Haemocytes