The size distribution of regenerated adult wings in flies expressing
CatScer\UAS.cAa under the control of
Scer\GAL4rn-GAL4-5 that were subjected to ablation of imaginal wing disc tissue during the larval stage, is comparable to that observed in similarly treated controls.
Expression of
CatScer\UAS.cAa specifically in nonmyocytic pericardial cells, under the control of
Scer\GAL4Dot.PK or
Scer\GAL4sns.GCN results in a significant reduction in the level of physiological reactive oxygen species. Compared to wild-type controls, these flies exhibit a marked deterioration in the regularity of heart rhythm, with an increased frequency of irregular beats, a broader distribution of heart periods, and significantly increased arrhythmia. These flies also exhibit a narrowed heart tube phenotype at 1 week of age, as manifested by significant decreases in the diastolic and systolic diameters, compared to control hearts. By 4 weeks of age, the flies with reduced reactive oxygen species levels exhibit enlarged heart tubes compared with control hearts because of a significantly greater diastolic diameters.
Expression of
CatScer\UAS.cAa in cardiomyocytes and nonmyocytic pericardial cells, under the control of
Scer\GAL4Hand.PA, which results in a significant reduction in the level of physiological reactive oxygen species, has no significant effects on any major aspects of heart function, including heart rhythm or heart tube dimensions.
Overexpression of
CatScer\UAS.cAa in nonmyocytic pericardial cells during embryogenesis and larval stages, under the control of
Scer\GAL4Dot.PK and
Scer\GAL80ts.αTub84B results in significant cardiac arrhythmias, compared to controls.
Expression of
CatScer\UAS.cAa under the control of
Scer\GAL4Hand.ΔVM.Switch (initiated by feeding flies RU486 during adulthood) improves cardiac performance. The heart period (mean time between successive end-diastolic positions) and frequency of arrhythmia are reduced in 45 day and 60 day old mutant flies compared to age-matched controls. Expression of
CatScer\UAS.cAa also prevents the age-related decrease in End-Diastolic Diameter (EDD) seen in wild type flies; EDD remains stable between 10 days and 60 days.
Expression of
CatScer\UAS.cAa under the control of
Scer\GAL4Act does not rescue the reduction in lifespan seen in flies under hyperoxia.
Expression of
CatScer\UAS.cAa under the control of
Scer\GAL4ple.PF does not rescue the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons that is seen in flies under hyperoxia.