Abstract
The Drosophila eye has been used extensively to study numerous aspects of biological systems, for example, spatio-temporal regulation of differentiation, visual signal transduction, protein trafficking and neurodegeneration. Right from the advent of fluorescent proteins (FPs) near the end of the millennium, heterologously expressed fusion proteins comprising FPs have been applied in Drosophila vision research not only for subcellular localization of proteins but also for genetic screens and analysis of photoreceptor function. Here, we summarize applications for FPs used in the Drosophila eye as part of genetic screens, to study rhodopsin expression patterns, subcellular protein localization, membrane protein transport or as genetically encoded biosensors for Ca2+ and phospholipids in vivo. We also discuss recently developed FPs that are suitable for super-resolution or correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) approaches. Illustrating the possibilities provided by using FPs in Drosophila photoreceptors may aid research in other sensory or neuronal systems that have not yet been studied as well as the Drosophila eye.
Highlights
Fluorescent proteins (FPs) have revolutionized the localization of molecules within cells or living organisms
Numerous variants of fluorescent proteins (FPs) have been designed as biosensors to facilitate detection of, for example, specific membrane lipids or Ca2+ ions, thereby expanding the usability of FPs beyond protein localization and addressing questions related to lipid signaling pathways or Ca2+ homeostasis
In order to complement biochemical detection methods, which are not part of this review, fluorescent probes specific to either a single phosphoinositide or a subset of these lipids have been developed (Figure 5C). One of these probes comprised a fusion of green fluorescent protein (GFP) with the PI(4,5)P2 -binding pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of the PI(4,5)P2 -cleaving enzyme phospholipase Cδ (PLCδ) at either its N- or
Summary
Fluorescent proteins (FPs) have revolutionized the localization of molecules within cells or living organisms. In a widely used approach, an FP like the green fluorescent protein (GFP) from jellyfish is fused to a protein of interest and recombinantly expressed in cell culture cells or transgenic organisms [1]. This allows subcellular localization of the protein of interest via its GFP fluorescence. In addition to investigations into visual processes like phototransduction and vision guided behaviour, the Drosophila eye has been used as a model for membrane protein trafficking and neurodegenerative diseases. Though, we present the system of the Drosophila eye as well as some key techniques with which FPs are routinely detected in vivo
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
