Analysis of photoreceptor membrane turnover in a Drosophila visual mutant, rdgA, by electron microscope autoradiography.

A Drosophila visual mutant, rdgA, has photoreceptor cells whose rhabdomeres degenerate in several days after eclosion. Incorporations of 3H-amino acids, and 3H-mannose and 3H-glucosamine residues into the photoreceptive membranes were studied in newly emerged rdgA mutant flies by electron microscope autoradiography. The amount of 3H-amino acids incorporated in rdgA rhabdomeres at 3 hr after the injection was about 50%, and that of 3H-sugar residues was about 20% of normal. Together with our previous finding that degradative activity is low in rdgA cell bodies at this time, these data indicate that the supply of photoreceptive membrane proteins is defective in rdgA.