The insect cuticle has long been appreciated as excellent material for the study of cellular responses to hormones. Not only is the insect epidermis a single layer of cells, but also ' the tiny fragment of cuticle laid down by a single cell may possess morphological characters controlled by the activities of that cell alone' (Wigglesworth, 1940 a) and cell differences will thus be rendered visi...

The microtubule (MT) plus-end motor kinesin heavy chain (Khc) is well known for its role in long distance cargo transport. Recent evidence showed that Khc is also required for the organization of the cellular MT network bymediating MT sliding. We found that mutations in Khc and the gene of its adaptor protein, kinesin light chain (Klc) resulted in identical bristle morphology defects, with the ...

The microtubule (MT) plus-end motor kinesin heavy chain (Khc) is well known for its role in long distance cargo transport. Recent evidence showed that Khc is also required for the organization of the cellular MT network by mediating MT sliding. We found that mutations in Khc and the gene of its adaptor protein, kinesin light chain (Klc) resulted in identical bristle morphology defects, with the...

The spatial organization of Drosophila melanogaster epidermal structures in embryos and adults constitutes a classic model system for understanding how the two dimensional arrangement of particular cell types is generated. For example, the legs of the Drosophila melanogaster adult are covered with bristles, which in most segments are arranged in longitudinal rows. Here we elucidate the key role...

This study was undertaken to assess the comparative effectiveness of two toothbrushes in the removal of plaque in an institutionalized, handicapped population. The two methods were: a conventional toothbrush using the Modified Stillman Method; and a curved-bristle toothbrush using the scrubbing technique recommended by the manufacturer. Subjects selected were profoundly retarded individuals, in...

Abstract We study the dynamic behavior of a lattice bristle-like elastic elements disposed at interface between rigid still substrate and sliding slab, in steady conditions. Due to normal frictional interactions with moving complex bristles dynamics occur, which may eventually alter overall response structured interface. Indeed, up three main mechanisms friction control can be identified, depen...

The forked (f) gene of Drosophila melanogaster encodes six different transcripts 6.4, 5.6, 5.4, 2.5, 1.9, and 1.1 kb long. These transcripts arise by the use of alternative promoters. A polyclonal antibody raised against a domain common to all of the forked-encoded products has been used to identify forked proteins on two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gel...

During bristle development the emerging bristle shaft, socket cell, and the apical surface of thoracic epithelial cells form tiny protuberances or pimples that contain electron-dense material located on the cytoplasmic surface of the pimple tip. In a few cases short actin filaments extend from this material into the cortical cytoplasm. When cultured in the presence of jasplakinolide, an agent t...