Figure 1.

mecA mutants have mechanosensory defects. (A) Illustration of the Drosophila mechanosensory organ. (B) mecA²⁰ and mecA¹⁰¹ hold their wings erect (red arrow). Additionally, mecA¹⁰¹ cannot stand and cross their legs (black arrow). Bar, 2 mm. (C–E) mecA¹⁰¹ homozygotes and mecA¹⁰¹ hemizygotes have an abnormally low MRC (C and D) but normal TEP (E). Shown as mean ± SD; n ≥ 11. ***P < 0.0001. con, control; 101, mecA¹⁰¹. (F–H) mecA¹⁰¹ flies have abnormally short or missing sensory dendrites labeled by GFP-tubulin (F). Sensory outer segments labeled by GFP-tubulin are virtually absent in mecA¹⁰¹ (white arrow). Dendrites labeled by GFP-tubulin are often absent in mecA¹⁰¹ (arrowhead). Green: GFP-tubulin. Red: cuticle autofluorescence. Bar, 5 μm. (G) Quantification of the percentage of mechanosensory neurons in mecA¹⁰¹. Shown as mean ± SD; n = 250. ***P < 0.001. (H) Quantification of the percentage of abnormally short or missing dendrites in mecA¹⁰¹. Shown as mean ± SD; n = 250. ***P < 0.001. Nor: normal dendrite. Par: partially short dendrite. No: no dendrite. (I) Cross-sections of adult mechanosensory organ at the level of outer segment in control (con) and in mecA¹⁰¹ (101). The location of cross-sections is shown by the red bar. Bar, 0.5 μm. CB, cell body; TB, tubular body; Sh, dendritic sheath. (C–E and I) bw;st (control), bw;st;mecA¹⁰¹ (101); F, elav-Gal4;UAS-GFP-tubulin;MKRS/TM6B (control) and elav-Gal4;UAS-GFP-tubulin;mecA¹⁰¹ (101).