Genetic analysis of the Drosophila beta3-tubulin gene demonstrates that the microtubule cytoskeleton in the cells of the visceral mesoderm is required for morphogenesis of the midgut endoderm.

We have investigated the cellular basis for lethality of mutant alleles of the Drosophila melanogaster beta3-tubulin gene, betaTub60D. Lethal beta3 mutations can be grouped into two classes: the most severe mutations (Class I alleles) cause death during the first larval instar, while weaker alleles (Class II) cause death in later larval stages or in early pupal development. Since beta3 is not expressed during larval development, lethality of the Class I mutations must reflect essential functions of beta3 in embryogenesis. Beta3-tubulin is zygotically expressed during midembryogenesis in the developing mesoderm, and the major site of beta3 accumulation is in the developing muscles during myogenesis. We show that the embryonic pattern of beta3 expression, including accumulation in the developing musculature, is conserved in other Drosophila species. However, we found that loss of beta3 function does not cause discernible defects in either the ultrastructure or function of the larval muscle. Thus beta3-tubulin is dispensable in its highest site of accumulation. Rather, the essential site of function of beta3 in embryos is in cells of the visceral mesoderm. Lethality of Class I alleles is caused by defects in midgut morphogenesis and failure of gut function. Although the folding pattern is irregular and the gut is smaller than normal, a complete folded gut forms in mutant larvae, and the visceral muscle functions normally to move food through the gut. However, mutant larvae cannot absorb nutrients across the gut wall. Thus loss of beta3 function in the mesoderm results in defects in the underlying endodermally derived layer of the gut. Our data provide an assay for cellular interactions between mesoderm and endodermal tissues and reveal a role for the microtubule cytoskeleton of the visceral mesodermal cells in differentiation of the endodermal cell layer of the larval gut.