Preparation of antibodies against zip product and the distribution of zip protein in Drosophila embryos

: Zip gene is required during the late neurogenesis of Drosophila. Molecular analysis of zip gene revealed that it encodes an integral membrane glycoprotein, functioning as a cellular recognition and/or adhesion molecule. It has been cloned into an expression plasmid pWR 590. By expression of this plasmid in E. coli, a fusion protein of zip with lacZ has been purified and used to prepare polyclonal antibodies from rabbits. After being identified by West blotting, antibodies were used to react with the whole mount embryos of Drosophila. The results of this antibody labelling experiment showed that zip proteins are fundamentally synthesized after germ band shortening, supporting our previous predication that zip gene is involved in the late neurogenesis and that antibodies against zip recognize lateral neural fascicles as well as neurons in CNS, proving that zip protein expressed in CNS may play a role in the establishment and maintenance of neural fasciculation.