Figure 4. Obp6 expression in the gut of larval tsetse is an integral component of the systemic pathway that actuates crystal cell production.

(A) Representative micrograph depicting spontaneous PPO activation in early third instar siGFP, siOBP6 and siOBP6^R tsetse larvae following subjection to a 10 min heat shock at 65°C. Experiment was repeated using one larvae from five distinct moms from each group. Melanotic spots were quantitated microscopically. Statistical analysis = Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn’s post-hoc analysis (Figure 4—source data 1). (B) RT-qPCR analysis of obp6, serpent and lozenge expression in embryos prior to maternal treatment with siRNA, and in siOBP6, siGFP and siOBP6^R tsetse larvae from siRNA treated moms. Embryo replicates (n = 5) contain three embryos, larval replicates (n = 7 for siOBP6, n = 5 for siGFP and n = 6 for siOBP6^R) contain a mixture of four first and second instar larvae. ND, not detectable. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Bars with different letters indicate a statistically significant difference between samples (specific p values for larval samples are listed in the Figure 4—source data 2). Statistical analysis = 2 way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s HSD post-hoc analysis. (C) Representative image of obp6 and lozenge spatial expression patterns, determined using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, in the gut and carcass of second instar Gmm^WT larvae. Experiment was repeated using guts and carcasses from five distinct individuals (Figure 4—source data 3).

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.19535.015