Figure 2. Effect of Sdc^{BG0277 4} mutation on body weight, total protein content, and metabolite storage.

(A) Schematic representation of dSdc gene region on the second chromosome at cytological position 57E1-57E6 (NCBI accession no. AE013599.4). Black and red boxes represent untranslated regions and exons, respectively. The location of the p[GT1] insertion site that creates the Sdc^{BG0277 4} mutation is indicated with an arrowhead. (B) P-element insertion in the dSdc gene leads to significantly reduced dSdc transcript abundance. Messenger RNA levels analyzed by RT-qPCR (n = 6) on cDNA using primers that encompass a common region of alternative transcripts. Levels of dSdc mRNA were normalized to Drosophila ribosomal protein49 (rp49) mRNA levels. (C) Sdc^{BG0277 4} mutation affects TAG levels. Because no differences were observed between male and female flies in TAG storage, we pooled male and female data for the analysis. Values represent least-square means from n = 20 independent replicates of homozygous Sdc^{BG0277 4} and CS (B) flies. (D–F) Sdc^{BG0277 4} mutation affects body weight, total protein content, and glycogen levels in females. Each value represents the mean body weight (panel D) and least-square means for protein (panel E) and glycogen (panel F) levels from n = 10 independent replicates. In all panels, error bars represent SEM. * P≤0.05, ** P≤0.01, *** P≤0.001, **** P≤0.0001 compared to control.