Fig. 7. Models for the effect of CPs and Vg on wing morphogenesis.
(A) The phenotypic differences between cpa, tsr and
capt could be due to different structures of the actin network in
mutant cells. CPs are represented by green bars, Capt by blue crescents
binding to monomeric actin (black circles) and Cofilin activity by pink
arrows. Loss of cpa would result in extension of each branch of the
network. Loss of tsr would make the core filament longer, while the
length of branches would be unchanged as they have no free pointed ends. Loss
of capt would free more actin monomers for incorporation into
networks with the wild-type structure. (B) Cpa (green) is expressed at
the apical membrane and co-localized with junctional complexes (orange
squares) that link the actin cytoskeleton (in red) of neighboring cells. Vg
expression differentiates the wing blade from the notum, enhances cpa
expression and also alters the cytoskeleton in such a way as to make the cells
dependent on cpa. These changes may contribute to morphogenesis of
the adult wing blade. In the notum, Cpa contributes to bristle development.
(C) cpa mutant cells (green) accumulate actin filaments near
the apical membrane and are maintained in the epithelium in the notum, causing
defects in bristle development. However, in the wing primordium, owing to
other cytoskeletal properties induced by Vg, cpa mutant cells
mislocalize junctional components, accumulate actin filaments throughout the
cell, are extruded and die.