Figure 2.

RT-PCR analyses of the Vg-DefA transgene expression. (A) Blood meal activation of the Vg-DefA transgene in mRNA samples isolated from transgenic males (1), blood-fed females (2), previtellogenic (3) and vitellogenic females 24 (4), and 72 hPBM (5). The same RNA samples also were analyzed using actin-specific primers as a control for RNA integrity and loading (Middle), and vitellogenin-specific primers, as a control showing the expression of the endogenous Vg gene after blood meal activation (Bottom). (B) Tissue-specific expression of the Vg-DefA transgene in vitellogenic females. Specific amplification was observed only in RNA samples isolated from the fat body (FB) and carcass (C), containing the fat body of the thorax and head. No amplification was found in the ovary (OV) or midgut (MG).