Figure 4
The VM of Vrp1 mutant embryos displays subtle phenotypes. (A-E) Embryos were stained for Alk to visualize the VM and Fasciclin III (FasIII) to indicate differentiated VM cells. (A) The VM of a Vrp1f06715embryo is slightly unorganized but has no obvious fusion defects as cells fuse and form a gut structure later in development. (B) Wild type control. (C) VM of a rp298;Vrp1f06715embryo, which expresses LacZ in the FC specific pattern of the Duf/Kirre gene. All cells of the VM express LacZ, indicating that FCs and FCMs have fused. (D) Late stage Vrp1f06715embryo exhibit a wild type gut (compare with E). (E) Late stage control embryo. (F-I) Longitudinal muscles of the VM develop normally in vrp1f06715mutants. LacZ is expressed in the longitudinal muscles of Vrp1f06715mutants and control embryos using the5053-Gal4 driver. Anti-βGal staining (red) marks the longitudinal muscles. (F) Vrp1f06715mutant embryo (Vrp1-UAS:lacZ;5053-Gal4), stage 17, shows a longitudinal muscle pattern similar to heterozygous controls (compare with G). (G) Heterozygous control embryo (Vrp1-UAS:lacZ;5053-Gal4/CyOLacZ), stage 17. In heterozygous animals βGal stains both longitudinal muscles and the striped pattern of the wingless-LacZ balancer chromosome. (H) Stage 12 Vrp1f06715embryo (homozygous Vrp1-UAS:lacZ;5053-Gal4), exhibits longitudinal muscles with no obvious defect. FasIII (blue) marks the circular VM (arrowhead indicates longitudinal muscles). (I) Stage 12 heterozygous control embryo (Vrp1-UAS:lacZ;5053-Gal4/CyOLacZ). Longitudinal muscles (arrowhead) surround the FasIII expressing circular muscle.