'sigmar[S]' animals (i.e. sigmarDf-C23 homozygotes in which the partial deletion of l(2)dtl has been rescued with l(2)dtlScer\UAS.cCa (without any Scer\GAL4 drivers)) are viable, developing to adult stages with no obvious morphological abnormalities.
The gross morphology of salivary glands from 'sigmar[S]' animals (i.e. sigmarDf-C23 homozygotes in which the partial deletion of l(2)dtl has been rescued with l(2)dtlScer\UAS.cCa (without any Scer\GAL4 drivers)) appears normal up to the wandering larval stage but exhibit a slight increase in overall length. In the pupal stages, all of the mutant salivary glands are significantly longer and wider compared to wild-type glands and were morphologically abnormal with some of the cells appearing grossly enlarged with big empty vacuole-like structures. Similar to wild type, the salivary glands from 'sigmar[S]' mutants persist for at least up to 25-26 hours APF. Salivary gland histolysis still occurs but appears delayed compared to control animals - the abnormally large vacuole-like phenotype persists until eventual salivary gland destruction. 'sigmar[S]' salivary glands (at 25 hours APF) have a highly disrupted microtubule network pattern.
Salivary glands from 'sigmar[S]' animals (i.e. sigmarDf-C23 homozygotes in which the partial deletion of l(2)dtl has been rescued with l(2)dtlScer\UAS.cCa (without any Scer\GAL4 drivers)) at 24-26 hours APF show reduced numbers of autophagic lysosomes together with defective autophagic flux.
