Figure 2

Abnormal ray clustering patterns of mutants in Sma/Mab pathway. The formation of daughter cells from ray precursor cells (Rn, n = 1-9) in different developmental stages was examined with apical junction markers ajm-1::gfp. Between mid-L3 and mid-L4 stage, Rn cells were divided by a stereotyped lineage pattern giving rise to ray cell groups (RCG) and were subsequently assembled (A-D) in wild-type animals. No abnormality is noted in the division of Rn.a and Rn.p cells in sma-6 (E) and mab-31 (I) mutants. In wild-type male, R7.aa and R7.ap are born at the dorsal side of R7.p (B). However, in sma-6 (F) and mab-31 (J) mutants, both R7.aa cells and R7.ap cells are skewed towards the ventral side of R7.p cell. The abnormal R7.aa and R7.ap reside next to the R6.aa and R6.ap cells. RCGs were well-separated in wild-type male tail (C) but not in both in sma-6 (G) and mab-31 (K) mutants. At a later stage, cellular components of ray 6 and ray 7 are clustered in close proximity and their structural cells are fused together (arrows in H and L). Lateral view, left side upwards. Hour (hrs) post-hatching at 20°C. Scale bar = 10 μm.