Figure 2: Loss-of-function DopEcR mutants exhibit a heat-induced seizure-like phenotype.

A) Homozygous hypomorphic DopEcR^PB1 (n = 59) and null DopEcR^Gal4 (n = 46) mutants were more susceptible than w¹¹¹⁸ (n = 58) control flies to heat-induced seizure behavior. B) Heterozygous DopEcR^PB1 /+ (n = 33) and DopEcR^Gal4 / + (n = 20) flies behaved similarly to control w¹¹¹⁸ / + (n = 35), suggesting haplosufficency of DopEcR, whereas trans-allelic heterozygotes DopEcR^PB1 / DopEcR^Gal4 (n = 45) expectantly failed to compliment and showed heat-induced seizure susceptibility. Experimental Methods: Fly cultures were maintained in standardized conditions (25°C, 65% humidity, 12 hr day/night cycle) and aged to 5-days-old. Flies were then placed into small glass vials (15 mm x 45 mm), allowed to acclimate for 5–15 minutes, and then submerged in a 40°C water bath for 2 minutes. Behavior was scored at 5-second intervals. Flies were scored as having a ‘seizure’ if they had lost posture and fallen over, or exhibited abdomen curling and wing buzzing behaviors. 2–3 experiments were performed for each genotype and male and female data were combined for genotypic averages; averages and SEMs are plotted; ANOVA repeated measures tests with Tukey posthoc tests were performed in R. ***p<0.001.