Fig. 6. SOD2 can promote the survival of rbf1 mutant cells.

(A) Third instar eye discs expressing dsRNA against Superoxide Dismutase 2 (SOD2) in either yw or rbf1^120a backgrounds were immunostained with anti-C3. (B) Eye discs (42 hours APF) from flies overexpressing SOD2 in either yw or rbf1^120a backgrounds were immunostained with anti-Discs Large. (C) The percentage of ommatidia with abnormal secondary pigment cells was determined for yw, SOD2, rbf1^120a and rbf1^120a; SOD2 pupal eye discs. In a control background 97% of ommatidial clusters have 6 secondary pigment cells, which is normally expected. However, in an rbf1^120a background overexpressing SOD2, 46.3% of ommatidial clusters have greater than 6 secondary pigment cells. SOD2 and rbf1^120a pupal eye discs contain 24% and 22% of ommatidial clusters with extra interommatidial cells respectively.