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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Dissection of the Drosophila Pupal Retina for Immunohistochemistry, Western Analysis, and RNA Isolation
Published on: March 15, 2019
Identification of the death zone: a spatially restricted region for programmed cell death that sculpts the fly eye
J P Monserrate1, C Baker Brachmann
1Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
Abstract:
Programmed cell death (PCD) sculpts many developing tissues. The final patterning step of the Drosophila retina is the elimination, through PCD, of a subset of interommatidial lattice cells during pupation. It is not understood how this process is spatially regulated to ensure that cells die in the proper positions. To address this, we observed PCD of lattice cells in the pupal retina in real time. This live-visualization method demonstrates that lattice cell apoptosis is a highly specific process. In all, 85% of lattice cells die in exclusive 'death zone' positions between adjacent ommatidia. In contrast, cells that make specific contacts with primary pigment cells are protected from death. Two signaling pathways, Drosophila epidermal growth factor receptor (dEgfr) and Notch, that are thought to be central to the regulation of lattice cell survival and death, are not sufficient to establish the death zone. Thus, application of live visualization to the fly eye gives new insight into a dynamic developmental process.
Insights
Programmed cell death (PCD) sculpts developing tissues. Live visualization revealed that Drosophila retina lattice cells die in specific "death zones," with cells contacting pigment cells being protected.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Programmed cell death (PCD) is crucial for sculpting developing tissues.
- In the Drosophila retina, PCD eliminates interommatidial lattice cells during pupation.
- The spatial regulation of this cell death process remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatial regulation of lattice cell PCD in the Drosophila pupal retina.
- To identify the mechanisms controlling the precise positioning of cell death during eye development.
Main Methods:
- Real-time live visualization of programmed cell death in the pupal Drosophila retina.
- Observation of lattice cell apoptosis and its spatial distribution.
- Analysis of cell-cell interactions, specifically contacts with primary pigment cells.
Main Results:
- Lattice cell apoptosis is a highly specific process, with 85% occurring in defined 'death zones' between ommatidia.
- Cells making direct contact with primary pigment cells are protected from undergoing apoptosis.
- Signaling pathways like Drosophila epidermal growth factor receptor (dEgfr) and Notch are insufficient to establish the observed 'death zone'.
Conclusions:
- Live visualization provides new insights into the dynamic regulation of cell death during Drosophila eye development.
- Specific spatial cues, rather than solely dEgfr or Notch signaling, dictate lattice cell elimination.
- The findings highlight a precise mechanism for patterning the Drosophila retina through controlled cell death.
