Figure 1.

A new Gα_q mutant with a flat ERG response. (A) ERG recording in various genetic backgrounds. Flies that are either homozygous for the V303D mutation or trans-heterozygous for V303D and a chromosomal deficiency uncovering the Gα_q region “Df(2R)E” (abbreviated for Df(2R)Exel7121) show a nearly complete loss of response to light stimulation. However, flies trans-heterozygous for V303D and a chromosomal deficiency uncovering an adjacent region to Gα_q “Df(2R)B” (abbreviated for Df(2R)BSC485) displayed a normal ERG recoding. For all ERG recordings, event markers represent 5-sec orange light pulses, and scale bar for the vertical axis is 5 mV. (B) The level of Gα_q protein in various genetic backgrounds. Western blot was used to detect Gα_q protein level in whole exact from fly heads with the indicated genotypes. “Df(2R)G” is the abbreviation for Df(2R)Gαq1.3. In each genotype, the Gα_q band is marked and the upper band is nonspecific. INAD was used as a loading control. Quantification of the Western blot results is shown below. The complete genotypes are as follows: w¹¹¹⁸ (wt); w¹¹¹⁸; Gα_q^V303D (V303D); w¹¹¹⁸; Gα_q^V303D/Df(2R)Exel7121 (V303D/Df(2R)E); w¹¹¹⁸; Gα_q^V303D/Df(2R)Gαq1.3 (V303D/Df(2R)G); w¹¹¹⁸; Gα_q^V303D/Df(2R)BSC485 (V303D/Df(2R)B).