A frameshift mutation is introduced by using site-directed mutagenesis to add an additional base at the end of exon d and a nearby compensatory base deletion in exon e, leading to translation of an inactive enzyme.
Flies expressing pleFS.Scer\UAS in a ple2 background exhibit reduced walking speed compared to wild-type. Similarly, they cover a shorter distance in a 15 minute period. These flies also respond poorly to mechanical shock (that induces climbing in wild-type flies).
Flies expressing pleFS.Scer\UAS in a ple2 background (under the control of both Scer\GAL4ple.PF and Scer\GAL4Ddc.PL) are overall less active and possibly sleep more frequently than controls. In addition, sleeping pleFS.Scer\UAS; ple2 flies respond less frequently to mild and moderate mechanical stimuli, whereas response to strong stimuli is comparable to controls.
Flies expressing pleFS.Scer\UAS in a ple2 background (under the control of both Scer\GAL4ple.PF and Scer\GAL4Ddc.PL) show no response to 3-iodotyrosine (whereas controls exhibit decreased activity). In contrast, caffeine is found to decrease resting periods in these flies.
Flies expressing pleFS.Scer\UAS in a ple2 background (under the control of both Scer\GAL4ple.PF and Scer\GAL4Ddc.PL) do not show any avoidance to shock-associated odors indicating impaired adversive olfactory learning. Interestingly, these flies show an inverse tendency to choose the shock-associated odor during testing. This effect is significant 2 hours after training.
Treatment of flies expressing pleFS.Scer\UAS in a ple2 background (under the control of both Scer\GAL4ple.PF and Scer\GAL4Ddc.PL) with the DA precursor L-DOPA significantly improves their negative geotaxis behavior and olfactory learning.
Flies expressing pleFS.Scer\UAS in a ple2 background (under the control of both Scer\GAL4ple.PF and Scer\GAL4Ddc.PL) show no significant response to sucrose. The proboscis extension reflex appears normal in these mutants however, indicating that sugar perception and reflex appetitive reactions are preserved. Quantification of food intake suggests that these flies eat one-third as much as controls, demonstrating that they are markedly hypophagic. The addition of L-DOPA significantly improves this phenotype.
Flies expressing pleFS.Scer\UAS in a ple2 background (under the control of both Scer\GAL4ple.PF and Scer\GAL4Ddc.PL) appear to show a lack of phototaxis despite displaying normal electroretinograms and optomotor responses.
Flies expressing pleFS.Scer\UAS in a ple2 background (under the control of both Scer\GAL4ple.PF and Scer\GAL4Ddc.PL) display slightly less accurate visual orientation than wild-type. Similarly, using the detour paradigm, both pleScer\UAS.cFa; ple2 and pleFS.Scer\UAS; ple2 flies demonstrate a roughly wild-type spatial orientation memory.
ple2 flies expressing pleFS.Scer\UAS under the control of both Scer\GAL4ple.PF and Scer\GAL4Ddc.PL exhibit normal adult life expectancy.
Expression of pleFS.Scer\UAS under the control of both Scer\GAL4ple.PF and Scer\GAL4Ddc.PL fully rescues (to the adult stage) the embryonic lethality normally found in ple2 mutants.
When transcribed, pleFS.Scer\UAS expresses active ple in non-neural tissues.