Evidence for intraflagellar transport in butterfly spermatocyte cilia

Abstract

AbstractIn the model organism insectDrosophila melanogastershort cilia assemble on spermatocytes that elaborate into 1.8 mm long flagella during spermatid differentiation. A unique feature of these cilia/flagella is their lack of dependence on intraflagellar transport (IFT) for their assembly. Here we show that in the common butterflyPieris brassicaethe spermatocyte cilia are exceptionally long: about 40 µm compared to less than 1 µm in Drosophila. By transmission electron microscopy we show thatP. brassicaespermatocytes display several features not found in melanogaster, including compelling evidence of IFT structures and features of motile cilia.Summary statementThis work shows ultrastructural definition of the exceptionally long cilia that persist on butterfly (P. brassicae) spermatocytes, including evidence of intraflagellar transport, during meiotic division.