The Role of the cut Gene in the Specification of Central Projections by Sensory Axons in Drosophila

Abstract

Mutations in the cut gene transform sense organs in Drosophila embryos from external sensory (es) receptors to chordotonal (ch) organs. We have investigated whether their central axonal projections are also transformed. Following Lucifer yellow injection of the sensory neuron, wild-type es and ch organs show characteristic, different projection patterns in the CNS. Transformed es neurons in cut embryos are variable in their projection patterns: some resemble wild-type es neurons, others ch neurons, while yet others are unlike either of these. We conclude that the cut gene influences axonal projections, although its action as a simple modality switch is open to question. Additional genes could be involved in the specification of the central axonal projection the transformed neurons.