In earlier work, we showed that autofluorescence of Drosophila eyes was very relevant to the study of vision. Confocal microscopy in collaboration with Charles F. Thomas of The LOCI (Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation) allowed further study. We examined transgenic Drosophila with Rh2-Rh6 replacing Rh1 in R1-6 (gifts from Charles Zuker at University of California San Diego) and Steve Britt at University of Colorado HSC at Denver). We also examined Drosophila stocks with GFP (green fluorescent protein) driven by Rh1, Rh3 and Rh4 promoters using stocks made by Dr. Franck Pichaud and Prof. Claude Desplan. Much of this work relates to work on retinoid control of opsin gene transcription. Much or the earlier content of this web page has been deleted since it now appears in the recent paper cited below.

An earlier paper:

Lee, R. D., Thomas, C. F., Marietta, R. G., Stark, W. S. Vitamin A, visual pigments and visual receptors in Drosophila. Microscopy Research and Technique, 35, 418-430, 1996 (invited paper for issue devoted to visual receptors). PubMed

A recent paper:

Stark, W. S., Thomas, C. F. Microscopy of multiple visual receptor types in Drosophila, Molecular Vision, 2004, 2004; 10:943-955, Full paper on line.

Movie - focus series through ocellar receptor tips (462K)

Movie - rotation of focus series, cornea to deep pseudopupil (776 K)

A unique view into the distal optics of the compound eye, including bristles and secondary and tertiary pigment cells is provided by the confocal microscope.


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This page last revised on May 27, 2005