UASt regulatory sequences drive expression of an inverted repeat.
Expression of Dh44GD13897 under the control of Scer\GAL4nSyb.PU (in combination with UAS-Dicer2 to increase RNAi efficiency) in females results in a large, significant decrease in the latency to sperm and mating plug ejection, from >1 hour in controls to within 10 mins after the end of copulation (AEC); a significant reduction in the number of eggs laid in the 48h period AEC, and a significant reduction in the number of sperm in the seminal receptacle 3 h after mating.
Expression of Dh44GD13897 under the control of Scer\GAL4nSyb.PU in females does not result in any change in copulation duration or the number of sperm initially transferred to the uterus immediately post-copulation, and eggs produced from these females are fertile and develop to adulthood normally.
Adults expressing Dh44GD13897 under the control of Scer\GAL4elav.PLu (in the presence of Dcr-2Scer\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.