Ectopic expression of chic^Scer\UAS.cJa under the control of Scer\GAL4^Hand.PU induces cardiomyopathy in adults: decreased heart period and an increase in both diastolic and systolic diameters compared to controls.

Ectopic expression of chic^Scer\UAS.cJa under the control of Scer\GAL4^Mef2.PU results in loss of flight and reduction in climbing abilities in adult flies compared to controls; expression under Scer\GAL4^Hk-UH3 also significantly reduces (but not abolishes) the flight ability of adult flies.

The double hexagonal lattice of fibrils in indirect flight muscles of adult flies is disorganized with loss of filaments at the periphery of myofibrils, increased thin filament and sarcomere lengths and distorted appearance of both Z- and M-lines in animals expressing chic^Scer\UAS.cJa under the control of the Scer\GAL4^Mef2.PU driver. Expression driven by the Scer\GAL4^Hk-UH3 also results in increased thin filament and sarcomere lengths.

In chic^Scer\UAS.cJa; Scer\GAL4^B11 flies, have macrochaetae phenotypes with a penetrance of 80% (as judged by at least 1 abnormal bristle per fly). Affected macrochaetae are often bent or split at the ends, or have slender barbs branching off. They also have highly disorganised longitudinal groove patterns. Posterior sternopleural bristle length very variable, but the average (301μm) is shorter than wild-type (368μm). During pupal stages in these animals, the actin bundles in developing bristles (trichogen cells) are disorganized and displaced from the plasma membrane.