Actin, alpha-actinin, and vinculin are associated with septate junctions in Insecta

Abstract

Cytoskeletal elements associated with the smooth septate junctions linking the midgut columnar cells of Manduca sexta larvae (Insecta, Lepidoptera) were characterized. Myosin subfragment 1 decoration and immunostaining for actin demonstrated that the filaments associated with the septate junctions were constituted of actin. Moreover, using a combination of immunochemical and immunolocalization techniques, evidence is presented that alpha-actinin, myosin II, and vinculin are localized close to the specialized plasma membranes. The insertion of microfilament bundles into submembranous F-actin/alpha-actinin/vinculin complexes, previously described in vertebrate junctions of adherens type, appears to be a more general organization, including the insect septate junction here examined.