Figure 3. Maternal zld is required for cellularization.

Confocal images of wt, zld^- (M^- zld²⁹⁴) and rescued (M^- zld²⁹⁴; otu-zld) embryos (as indicated) stained with phalloidin to detect F-actin, α-slam, or α-Nrt antibodies (green), and DAPI to detect DNA (red). In M^- zld embryos the cytoskeletal network is disorganized and quickly degenerates in early cycle 14 (d) accompanied by nuclear fallout (d’, arrow). Slam protein disappears in cycle 14 (f, f’), while Nrt accumulates apically (h, arrow). In M^- zld²⁹⁴; otu-zld embryos the cytoskeleton is organized (i) and cellularization proceeds (i’, arrow).