IMMUNOLOCALIZATION OF KINESIN AND CYTOPLASMIC DYNEIN IN THE RETINA OFTHE LOCUST SCHISTOCERCA-GREGARIA

Light stimulation of locust photoreceptors causes a translocation of s ubmicrovillar cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum away from the rha bdome, and a movement of mitochondria towards the rhabdome. To examine whether the microtubule cytoskeleton could be involved in these organ elle movements, we have analysed the distribution of the microtubule-d ependent motor proteins kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein in the retina o f the locust Schistocerca gregaria. Both kinesin and cytoplasmic dynei n are associated with vesicular structures that are distinct from mito chondria 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.