Immunolocalization of kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein in the retina of the locust Schistocerca gregaria.

Light stimulation of locust photoreceptors causes a translocation of submicrovillar cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum away from the rhabdome, and a movement of mitochondria towards the rhabdome. To examine whether the microtubule cytoskeleton could be involved in these organelle movements, we have analysed the distribution of the microtubule-dependent motor proteins kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein in the retina of the locust Schistocerca gregaria. Both kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein are associated with vesicular structures that are distinct from mitochondria and the submicrovillar endoplasmic reticulum. These results, together with the previous demonstration of a lack of microtubules in the cell area of light-dependent organelle movements, provide evidence that the microtubule cytoskeleton is not involved with light-induced organelle translocations.