Excision of the P{EP} element in P{EP}MAPk-Ak2GE3296 results in deletion of the region upstream of the insertion site, which includes the first exon of MAPk-Ak2.
Approximately 25% of MAPk-Ak2Δ41 mutant larvae exhibit a melanotic phenotype in response to strong salt stress (0.2M NaCl). A "black dot" is seen in the posterior hindgut and the affected hindgut epithelium appears pathologically altered. Very few mutants exhibit this phenotype when raised on food containing 0.1M NaCl, or on normal food.