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. 2013 Jan 7;8(1):e53186. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053186

Figure 5. Copper transporters mutants are insensitive to demelanization.

Figure 5

Comparative analysis of three Ctr1 transcripts A, B and C expressions by RT-PCR showed no changes in mRNA expression following AgNP feeding with respect to the control flies suggesting that the copper transport machinery was not affected in the presence of Ag+. (B) Interestingly reduced synthesis of CTR1A and B proteins in Ctr/+ heterozygotes makes them insensitive to demelanization effect, so their body color remains normal (darker abdominal stripes) as opposed to the AgNP fed fly which appears much lighter in body color. Therefore, intracellular copper transporters are required for transporting AgNPs into the cell.