Rapid IFM Dissection for Visualizing Fluorescently Tagged Sarcomeric Proteins

Abstract

Sarcomeres, the smallest contractile unit of muscles, are arguably the most impressive actomyosin structure. Yet a complete understanding of sarcomere formation and maintenance is missing. The Drosophila indirect flight muscle (IFM) has proven to be a very valuable model to study sarcomeres. Here, we present a protocol for the rapid dissection of IFM and analysis of sarcomeres using fluorescently tagged proteins.