(A) Temporal expression patterns of NinaD and NinaB during the flies’ life cycle. NinaD is expressed at late larval stages and helps rendering carotenoids available from the chow. NinaB expression increases at late pupal stages timely coinciding with rhodopsin synthesis in the compound eyes. l1–3, first, second and third instar larval stages; p1, early pupa; p2, late pupa, a1, adult (< 3 days old); a2, adult (10 days old), gen, genomic DNA control. (B, C) Immunocytochemistry of transiently transfected S2 cells expressing ninaD-I. Panels B shows an epifluorescence image showing labeling of NinaD-I, which was detected with an antibody raised against the V5 epitope of the recombinant NinaD fusion protein and Cy3-conjugated secondary antibody (red). Cell nuclei are stained with DAPI (blue). Scale bar is 10 μm. Panels C shows a confocal image depicting the immunofluorescence labeling of NinaD-I in one optical section that is approximately 0.26 μm thick. Scale bars are 2.5 μm.