Formation of Axon to Myocyte Contacts in Drosophila Cell Cultures

Cultures of Drosophila embryonic cells offer new opportunitiesfor studying myoneural junctions. In culture, neuroblasts andmyoblasts differentiate and yield neurons and myocytes. Someaxons grow across the surface of the culture vessel and attachto myocytes, forming functional myoneural junctions. Therefore,all stages in junction formation may be examined in vitro underconditions where pharmacological, electrophysiological, andother commonplace approaches are facilitated. This method offersan additional, most powerful approach for studying the junctions,that of genetic analysis. Drosophila mutations may be soughtwhich affect junction formation and function. Altered cellsand junctions from mutants may then be compared to those fromwild-type animals in order to dissect the gene-directed stepsunderlying junction phenomena.