Adhesion of Drosophila imaginal disc cells in vitro

We have used our imaginal disc cell lines to carry out in vitro studies on the cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesion of Drosophila leg and wing disc c ells. Single cells were allowed to reaggregate in roller culture, and this process was found to be partially dependent on the presence of magesium and calcium ions in the suspension medium. Varying rates of reaggregation were observed in cells from different stages of a passage, correlating with the pattern of morphogenesis which occurs during the passage. We have demonstr ated that cloned cell lines can be produced showing certain selected charac teristics, such as reduced cell adhesiveness.