Figure 3From: A role for the membrane protein M6 in the Drosophila visual systemM6 localizes to neuropils and projections in the adult brain. (A) M6 levels measured in control (w) ovaries and heads by RT-qPCR. Total M6 mRNA was quantified using primers directed to the 3’UTR of all M6 isoforms. Levels of M6-A/C/D, derived from promoter 1 (P1) and M6-B, from P2, were quantified using primers annealing at the 5’UTR of the P1- or the P2-transcripts (exon Ia and Ib, respectively; black arrows in Figure 1A). The ratios between normalized M6 expressions in heads relative to ovaries are plotted. Ratio of mean ± SEM, n = 3. (B-E) M6 localization was analyzed using a GFP protein trap (M6GFP) that expresses endogenous levels of GFP-tagged M6 isoforms [20]. Brain immunofluorescence of control (w, B) or M6GFP (C E) adults stained with GFP, FasII (neuropil marker, C) and Elav (neuronal marker, E). Magnified views of the regions indicated in D are in a’, a” and a”’. Single confocal sections of brain frontal views are shown (anterior view in C (0 μm); posterior view in D). Two depths of a Z-stack from the same brain are presented in B (0 μm and 5,94 μm), in C (0 and 6.19 μm), and in D a”’ (0 and 3.2 μm). The neuropils labeled in M6GFP included: lamina (la), outer and inner medulla (me), lobula (lo) and lobula plate (lo p), calyx neuropil (ca), pedunculus (ped), Kenyon cells (α, β and γ), ellipsoid body (e b), superior arch (s a), fan shaped body (f s), noduli (no), protocerebral bridge (pr br), lateral horn (l ho), superior medial protrocerebrum (s m pr), ventrolateral protocerebrum (v l pr) and superior lateral protocerebrum (s l pr). Cortical neuronal cell body layer at the surface of the brain is shown (D a”’-0 μm). (E) Magnified views of the medulla. White arrowheads point to projections (D a”, a”’ (3.2 μm), E). Scale bar, 50 μm.Back to article page