<i>loh</i> and <i>prc</i> are essential for cellular adhesion of cardiac cells.

Abstract

<p>(<b>A–I</b>) Progressive loss of pericardial cell adhesion (cells marked by <i>hand</i>C-GFP) in <i>prc^MB03017</i> (D–F) and <i>loh^MB05750</i>/Df(2L)Exel7048 (G–I) mutants indicated by pericardial cell detachment (arrow heads). (<b>J, K</b>) Connection between the larval alary muscle (AM) and the cardiomyocytes (CC) is mainly facilitated by a reticular Prc matrix, covering the pericardial cells (PC). (<b>L–N</b>) Loss of cell adhesion includes the detachment of alary muscles (AM) from the heart in <i>loh^MB05750</i>/Df(2L)Exel7048 (M) or <i>prc^MB03017</i>/Df(3L)vin6 (N) third instar larvae. (<b>O–Q</b>) F-actin arrangement in control (O) <i>loh^MB05750</i>/Df(2L)Exel7048 (P) and <i>prc^MB03017</i>/Df(3L)<i>vin6</i> (Q) mutants third instar larvae. The orientation of the actin fibers is altered by loss of pericardial cell adhesion.</p