Abstract
The Drosophila eye displays peculiar sensory organs of unknown function, the mechanosensory bristles, that are intercalated among the adjacent ommatidia. Like the other Drosophila sensory organs, the mechanosensory bristles consist of a bipolar neuron and two tandemly aligned centrioles, the distal of which nucleates the ciliary axoneme and represents the starting point of the ciliary rootlets. We report here that the centriole associated protein Sas-4 colocalizes with the short ciliary rootlets of the mechanosensory bristles and with the elongated rootlets of chordotonal and olfactory neurons. This finding suggests an unexpected cytoplasmic localization of Sas-4 protein and points to a new underscored role for this protein. Moreover, we observed that the sheath cells associated with the sensory neurons also display two tandemly aligned centrioles but lacks ciliary axonemes, suggesting that the dendrites of the sensory neurons are dispensable for the assembly of aligned centrioles and rootlets.
Highlights
Drosophila melanogaster has two main kinds of sensory organs that display some variations with respect to their specific sensory function [1]
The distal and the proximal centrioles are retained homologous to the mother and the daughter centrioles of somatic cells on the basis that the primary cilium is organizes in vertebrate cells by the mother centriole
To confirm that the centriole associated with the ciliary axoneme was the distal one, we look at the distribution of centrobin, a good marker for the daughter centrioles in Drosophila [4,5]
Summary
Drosophila melanogaster has two main kinds of sensory organs that display some variations with respect to their specific sensory function [1]. Mechanosensory organs lack cuticular extensions and the ciliated end of the sensory neurons is anchored to the dendritic cap, an apical cuticular dome [2] Despite this different morphology the sensory organs share a common module consisting of supporting cells, the sensory neuron, and a modified primary cilium. The distal and the proximal centrioles are retained homologous to the mother and the daughter centrioles of somatic cells on the basis that the primary cilium is organizes in vertebrate cells by the mother centriole This aspect is unclear since the early biogenesis of the centrioles in sensory organs is still unknow. Ectopically expressed centrobin in sensory organs results in centrioles unable to nucleate ciliary axonemes supporting the role of this protein in affecting the fate and function of the parent centrioles [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
