Figure 5.

Glia-specific functions of Pss

(A) Pss RNAi expression with Dcr2 by da-GAL4, Pss-GAL4, or repo-GAL4 caused lethality, whereas knockdown by neuron-specific elav-GAL4 produced viable adults without any noticeable defects.

(B and C) Escapers of Pan-glial Pss knockdown without Dcr2 (+; repo>Pss RNAi) produced a significant reduction in life span and climbing ability. (B) life span, control n = 190, +; repo>Pss RNAi n = 96 (Log rank test: p < 0.0001). (C) Climbing behavior was analyzed in 10-day-old flies. control n = 77, +; repo>Pss RNAi n = 52. Bars represent the mean ± SEM. ∗∗∗p < 0.001. Numbers within bars indicate mean values.

(D and E) Pan-neuronal Pss knockdown (Dcr2; elav>Pss RNAi) does not obviously affect development, longevity, and climbing ability. (D) life span, control n = 189, Dcr2; elav>Pss RNAi n = 180 (Log rank test: p = 0.7291). (E) Climbing behavior was analyzed in 10-day-old flies. control n = 40, Dcr2; elav>Pss RNAi n = 40. Bars represent the mean ± SEM. n.s., not significant. Numbers within bars indicate mean values.

(F and G) Pan-glial Pss overexpression (repo>Pss) does not affect development but leads to a significant reduction in life span and climbing ability. (F) life span, control n = 212, repo>Pss n = 200 (Log rank test: p < 0.0001). (G) Climbing behavior was analyzed in 10- and 20-day-old flies. WT n = 100, repo>Pss n = 100. Bars represent the mean ± SEM. ∗∗∗p < 0.001. Numbers within bars indicate mean values.

(H and I) Pan-neuronal Pss overexpression did not affect development, longevity, and climbing ability. (H) life span, control n = 160, Dcr2; elav>Pss RNAi n = 366 (Log rank test: p = 0.0157). (I) Climbing behavior was analyzed in 10-day-old flies. WT n = 100, +; repo>Pss RNAi n = 100. Bars represent the mean ± SEM. n.s., not significant. Numbers within bars indicate mean values.

(J) Lethality caused by glia subtype-specific Pss knockdown.

(K) Survival rate of cortex glia-specific Pss knockdown (Dcr2; NP2222>Pss RNAi) mutants. Most died within 48 hr at 29°C. control n = 150, Dcr2; NP2222>Pss RNAi n = 140 (Log rank test: p < 0.0001).

(L and M) Bang-sensitive phenotypes of 1-day-old flies. (L) Cortex glia Pss knockdown (Dcr2; NP2222>PssRNAi) mutants (n = 94) were much more sensitive to shock than the control flies (n = 122). (M) Recovery time for paralyzed flies. Pss mutant flies took longer to recover. Bars represent the mean ± SEM. ∗∗∗p < 0.001.

(N) Relative Pss expression level in the head of cortex glia-specific knockdown flies and control flies. Bars represent max and min values.