Figure 2.

Expression of Wld(s) or UBP2 blocks dendrite degeneration. Whole larvae expressing mCD8–GFP under control of the class IV da neuron driver ppk–Gal4 were mounted and subjected to dendrite severing with a pulsed UV laser. Animals were then recovered to food and remounted for imaging at later time points. In A, larvae expressed a hairpin RNA directed against rtnl2 (a control); in B, larvae also expressed UAS-controlled Wld(s) (MacDonald et al., 2006), and in C, they expressed UAS-controlled UBP2. For quantitation (D), wild-type (WT) larvae expressing only mCD8–GFP were assayed for the presence of any dendrite traces at 18 h after severing. Similarly, larvae expressing mCD8–GFP and Wld(s) or UBP2 in the ddaC cell were assayed for dendrite traces 18 h after severing. Both transgenes were extremely effective at blocking dendrite degeneration.