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In Vivo Imaging of Muscle-tendon Morphogenesis in Drosophila Pupae
Published on: February 6, 2018
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Analyzing muscle structure and function throughout the larval instars in live Drosophila
Mridula Balakrishnan1,2, Whitney J Sisso1,2, Mary K Baylies1,2
1Biochemistry, Cell & Developmental Biology, and Molecular Biology (BCMB) program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY 10065, USA.
STAR Protocols
|February 3, 2021
Summary
This study presents a workflow to analyze fruit fly larval muscle structure and function. The methods allow systematic examination of muscle development across different larval stages.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Muscle Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- The fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) larval musculature is a well-established model for studying muscle development.
- Each larval muscle fiber exhibits conserved cytoarchitecture, including sarcomere structure and composition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a comprehensive workflow for the systematic analysis of muscle structure and function in Drosophila larvae.
- To enable detailed study of muscle development across discrete larval stages and instars.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a combination of newly developed and adapted methods.
- Focused on analyzing muscle structure and function at specific developmental time points.
- Workflow designed for genetic and optical accessibility of the Drosophila larval model.
Main Results:
- Established a systematic approach to characterize Drosophila larval muscle development.
- Provided a protocol for detailed analysis of muscle cytoarchitecture and sarcomere organization.
- Enabled functional assessment of larval muscles throughout development.
Conclusions:
- The presented workflow offers a robust tool for investigating muscle development in Drosophila.
- This systematic analysis facilitates a deeper understanding of conserved muscle structures and their developmental regulation.
- The protocol supports future research into the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying muscle formation and function.
