Expression of the acetylcholinesterase transcript in the chordotonal neurons of Drosophila embryos.

The transcript of the acetylcholinesterase gene (Ace) was detected in the central nervous system (CNS) and the lateral chordotonal neurons (lch3, lch5) of wild type Drosophila melanogaster embryos. Ace126, a representative mutation of the acetylcholinesterase gene, abolished expression in the lch3 and lch5 neurons and slightly reduced the number of lch5 cells in some abdominal segments. The number of lch5 neurons was also reduced in Ace hemizygous and transheterozygous mutant embryos. The correlation between the lack of Ace expression and the mild defect of lateral chordotonal neurons is discussed.