UASt regulatory sequences drive expression of an inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP[[3]]) "sponge" which retains the ability to bind IP[[3]] without exerting any physiological activity, thus titrating cellular IP[[3]]. The sponge sequence consists of a 380 amino acid peptide derived from the ligand binding site of the Mmus\Itpr1 gene which has been mutated to carry the amino acid replacement R441Q.
Animals expressing Mmus\Itpr1IP3-sponge.m49.Scer\UAS under the control of Scer\GAL4fkh.PU show inhibition of autophagy in the salivary glands 14 hours after pupariation and salivary gland fragments persist in these animals 24 hours after puparium (no residual salivary gland material is present in wild-type animals at this stage).
Expression of Mmus\Itpr1IP3-sponge.m49.Scer\UAS under the control of Scer\GAL4Gr5a.853 changes the sensitivity of flies to sugars, with expression resulting in less of a preference towards trehalose and an increase in consumption of sucrose.
Flies expressing Mmus\Itpr1IP3-sponge.m49.Scer\UAS under the control of Scer\GAL4Gr5a.853 exhibit a decrease in trehalose consumption at a variety of trehalose concentration.
Mmus\Itpr1IP3-sponge.m49.UAS, Scer\GAL4fkh.PU has salivary gland | pupal stage phenotype, non-suppressible by IP3K2Δ1
The inhibition of autophagy which is seen in the salivary glands 14 hours after pupariation in animals expressing Mmus\Itpr1IP3-sponge.m49.Scer\UAS under the control of Scer\GAL4fkh.PU is still seen if the animals are also mutant for IP3K2Δ1.