Gap junctions are non-randomly distributed inDrosophila wing discs |
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Authors: | Jan Stephen Ryerse |
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Affiliation: | (1) Department of Pathology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 South Grand Blvd., 63104 St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
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Abstract: | Summary The distribution of gap junctions in mature larvalDrosophila melanogaster wing discs was analyzed by means of quantitative electron microscopy. Gap junctions are non-randomly distributed in the proximal-distal disc axis and in the apical-basal cell axis of the epithelium. In the epithelial cells, the surface density, number and length of gap junctions are greatest in the apical cell region and distal disc region. The average gap junction surface density is 0.0572 m–1 and 2.77% of the lateral cell surface is composed of gap junctions. In the adepithelial cells, the gap junction surface density is 0.0005 m–1 and 0.06% of the cell surface is composed of gap junctions. No gap junctions were observed between epithelial cells and adepithelial cells. The absolute area of gap junctions was estimated in a proximal-distal strip of cells in the disc and is considerably less in the folded regions of the epithelium compared to the flat notum and wing pouch regions. The results are discussed with respect to pattern formation and growth control in imaginal discs. |
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Keywords: | Drosophila Gap junction Wing disc |
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