Fine structure of flight muscles in different Notch mutants of Drosophila melanogaster reared at different temperatures.

The fine structure of the indirect flight muscles was studied by electron microscopy in the following Notch locus mutants of Drosophila melanogaster reared at 18° C or 29° C for 6 days after eclosion: Ax 16172/Ax16172, Ax28/ Ax28, l(1)Nts1/l(1)Nts1,l(1)Nts1/Y and in wild-type controls. The flies were raised up to eclosion at 25° C or 18° C. It was observed that the l(1)Nts1 flies gradually became flightless within a few days if reared at 29° C as adults, and gross changes in the fine structure of the flight muscles were also observed in flies of this genotype. Peripheral myofilaments of myofibrils were disarranged and the mitochondria diminutive. At 18° C the flight muscles remained normal. In all of the Abruptex (Ax) combinations the flight muscles remained similar to the wild-type controls at both 18° C and 29° C, i.e. they were normal. The results suggest that the Notch gene is active in adult flies in addition to its activity during embryonic, larval and pupal stages, and is directly or indirectly involved in the adult development of the muscle tissue.