Figure 6

Neurodegeneration induced by Fus/Caz overexpression occurs due to apoptosis. (A) A large magnification of the VNC from a third instar larva expressing mGFP by OK371-Gal4 shows GFP-labeled motor neurons and adjacent non-motor neuronal cells. Arrows in A indicate the nuclear structure of motor neuronal cells and arrowheads indicate the nuclear structure of adjacent cells. (B-G) VNCs from larvae coexpressing mGFP with Myc-Fus, Myc-FusR521G, HA-Caz, Myc-FusNES, or Myc-FusΔ32NLS were stained with the indicated antibodies and the Hoechst 33342 dye to label the nuclear structures. Arrows in B, C, E, and G indicate the decreased nuclear staining and disrupted nuclear structure by the expression of Fus, FusR521G, Caz, or FusΔ32NLS in the nuclei. Arrows in D and F indicate the unaffected nuclear structures. The arrowheads indicate the nuclear staining of normal adjacent cells, which serves as a control. (H-K) TUNEL assays were performed on the VNC from the larvae of OK371-Gal4 (control) or the larvae expressing Fus, FusΔ32, or Caz by OK371-Gal4. Apoptotic cell death is measured by the TUNEL signal (green).