Fig 1. Adult-specific hNTE expression restores NTE-like esterase activity and improves negative geotaxis in sws ⁵ deficient flies.

(A) hNTE protein is present in heads of adult hNTE rescue flies, but not controls or sws ⁵ mutants. Loading control using anti-Tubulin is shown below. Representative image from 3 biological replicates. (n = 10 fly heads for each sample) (B) Esterase activity is reduced in sws ⁵ mutants and control RU- flies in comparison to wild-type Berlin K (pairwise t-test, p = 0.006 and p = 0.0177, respectively). Flies expressing hNTE using elav-GAL4 increase esterase activity to the level of the wild type Berlin K (pairwise t-test, p = 0.9668). Data across groups were analyzed using two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-test and represent duplicate biological samples (n = 10, p≤0.0029, genotype effect, p<0.0001, RU effect, p = 0.0094, RU-by-genotype effect, p = 0.0038). (C) Age-matched sws ⁵ ;hNTE;elav GS RU + flies display increased climbing vigor in comparison to flies without hNTE induction. Mifepristone (RU+) or vehicle (RU-) was fed to adult flies 3 days post-eclosion and maintained throughout life in order to induce transgene expression after development was complete. Photograph was taken 2 seconds after sharp rapping of vials onto a solid surface in order to induce negative geotaxis response.