Figure 1

Inx1 is localized to baso-lateral follicle-cell membranes. A: Drosophila stage-10b follicle, showing different cell types and membrane regions relevant for the present study (blue: nuclei, stained with DAPI; red: F-actin, stained with rhodaminylphalloidin). B: Scheme of the predicted protein structure of innexins (white: intracellular domains (NT, N-terminus; CL, cytopasmic loop; CT, C-terminus), black: transmembrane domains, grey: extracellular domains). Hemichannels made of six molecules can be either homo- or heteromeric, channels made of two hemichannels either homo- or heterotypic. C: On immunoblots of ovary extracts using Inx1-antiserum (AInx1Rb-CT) a weak band at the calculated molecular mass of 46 kDa (asterisk) and two bands at 43 and 41 kDa are recognized. D: Inx1 is detected in a continuous pattern as well as in presumed gap-junction plaques at the lateral follicle-cell membranes (FC, arrows, stage 10a, surface view, WFF). E: Inx1 is restricted to the baso-lateral domain (arrowheads) of the follicle cells, i. e. the apical domain and the oolemma (asterisk) is not stained (stage 10a, optical median section, WFF). a, anterior; aFCM, apical follicle-cell membrane; bFCM, basal follicle-cell membrane; BM, basement membrane; cFC, centripetally migrating follicle cells; NC, nurse cells; Ooc, oocyte; Ool, oolemma.