Fig. 5

Interference with cytoskeletal networks affects RNA aggregates and f-actin. Animal views of embryos at 45 min p.f. after treatment with control solvent (DMSO; A, E), injection of the f-actin inhibitor latrunculin B (B, F), and treatments with the microtubule-inhibiting reagent nocodazole (C, G) and the microtubule-stabilizing drug paclitaxel (D, H), and subsequently labeled for dnd RNA (A–D) or f-actin (E–H). Latrunculin-B-injected embryos show a reduction in the number of cortical RNA aggregates (B; in this particular embryo the reduction in the number of cortical aggregates is more pronounced on the right side of the embryo, presumably due to the uneven distribution of the injected drug), as well as defects in the formation of f-actin-based structures (F; 11/15 with defects in latrunculin-B-injected embryos, compared to 1/10 in control-injected embryos). Nocodazole-treated embryos show a reduction in the RNA-free zone at the center of the blastodisc and a decrease in the formation of larger RNA aggregates normally observable at this stage (C), as well as a reduction in the degree of clearing of f-actin from the center of the blastodisc (G). Paclitaxel-treated embryos show a general increase in RNA aggregation, which is observed in more peripheral locations than normal (D) and show increased degree of actin bundling at the periphery of the blastodisc (H). Scale bar in panel (H) represents 100 μm for all panels.