RNAi-mediated loss of function study to identify genes involved in diapause.
(A-C) Mat-ɑ-tub-Gal4 driving expression of UASp-F-tractin.tdTomato (red) at the indicated temperatures. Scale bars are 100µm. (D) Quantification of zpg RNAi knockdown in Stage-3 egg chambers normalized to the level of Zpg in the germarium. (1-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison test, compact letter display shows comparisons). The numbers (n) of Stage 3 egg chambers quantified are shown. (E-H) Representative images of egg chambers stained with anti-Zpg antibody (green) from either control (no-knockdown), (E, E’) or knockdown of zpg (F-H’) driven by Mat-ɑ-tub-Gal4 at different temperatures. (E’-H’) are higher magnification, single channel views of the ovarioles shown in (E-H). Scale bars are 100 µm for (E-H) and 20 µm in (E’-H’). All flies in (A-H’) were kept at respective temperatures for 3 weeks. (I) Experimental design for RNAi knockdown specifically during recovery for the experiment shown in (J). The temperature-sensitive Gal80 repressor of Gal4 prevented RNAi expression during development and diapause. Incubation at 30°C during recovery inactivates Gal80, allowing Gal4-mediated RNAi knockdown. (J) Ubiquitous knockdown of Dip-γ or sbb with tub Gal4 specifically during recovery as shown in (I) significantly reduces post-diapause/non-diapause fecundity compared to the control (tubGal80TS;tubGal4 > Ctrl RNAi #9331). (K) Pan-neuronal RNAi knockdown of Dip-γ and sbb with nSybGal4 significantly reduces post-diapause/non-diapause fecundity compared to the control (nSyb Gal4> Ctrl RNAi #54037). (L) Glia-specific knockdown of Dip-γ or sbb with Repo Gal4 causes little or no reduction in post-diapause/non-diapause fecundity (Control-Repo Gal4> Ctrl RNAi #54037). In (J-L), 1-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison test, compact letter display shows comparisons. n is the number of individual female flies tested.