Pupae (16h after puparium formation) with IKKε^GD5424 driven by Scer\GAL4^ppk.PG have dendrite pruning defects.

Approximately 20% of Scer\GAL4^{neur-GAL4-A101};ik2^GD5424 mutant bristles exhibit wild-type morphology, in which the shaft diameter is the widest at the bristle base and tapered toward the tip. In most of the mutant fly bristles, the widest shaft diameter is not found at the base of the bristle. Approximately 73% of the mutant bristles exhibit an altered growth direction that is not axially biased and 60% terminate in several minitips instead of a single tip. The middle third of the mutant bristles show moderately disorganized ridges that are shallower and more numerous than the wild-type bristle surface, which is characterized by straight ridges and valleys, suggesting that alterations in actin organization occurs in the mutants during the middle phase of bristle elongation.

Expression of ik2^GD5424 under the control of Scer\GAL4^{neur-GAL4-A101} results in poorly oriented actin bundles that are less organised than in wild-type. Although the actin bundles within the shaft appear intact and continuous, they are not restricted to the shaft periphery. The actin bundles are loosely oriented within the shaft such that a single actin bundle can be traced as it goes in various directions. Mutant tips are misshapen and do not taper in a straight direction as in wild-type. In some cases, it appears as if the actin bundles even align opposite to the normal growth direction. Bristles with reduced levels of ik2 contain extremely disorganized microtubules. The often appear as aggregates, found at various locations along the bristle shaft.

Adults expressing IKKε^GD5424 under the control of Scer\GAL4^elav.PLu (in the presence of Dcr-2^Scer\UAS.cDa to increase the efficiency of RNAi) do not show a significant defect in avoidance of noxious temperature (46[o]C) compared to control flies.

Depending on the insertion line used, expression under the control of Scer\GAL4^Mef2.PR can result in a weak flyer phenotype.

The proximal dendrites remain intact for most ddaC neurons at 18 hours after puparium formation (APF) in animals expressing ik2^GD5424 under the control of Scer\GAL4^ppk.PG, indicating a defect in dendritic severing during dendrite pruning (proximal dendrites can be seen disconnected from the ddaC soma at 5 hours APF in wild-type animals).

The microtubules remain intact in the dendrites of ddaC neurons at 6 hours after puparium formation (APF) in animals expressing ik2^GD5424 under the control of Scer\GAL4^ppk.PG (microtubules in the dendrites of wild-type ddaC neurons show breakage at this stage).

Expression under the control of Scer\GAL4^pnr-MD237 results in loss of bristles on the notum in 0% or 10-20% of the Scer\GAL4^pnr-MD237 expression domain, depending on the insertion line used.

Expression under the control of Scer\GAL4^pnr-MD237 results in bristle morphology defects on the notum in 0%, 50-60% or 90-100% of the Scer\GAL4^pnr-MD237 expression domain, depending on the insertion line used.

Expression under the control of Scer\GAL4^pnr-MD237 results in the absence of 0% or 20-30% of the Scer\GAL4^pnr-MD237-expressing area of the notum, depending on the insertion line used.