UASp regulatory sequences drive expression of the coding sequence of Hsap\DUX4, with the sequence starting from the second of the two potential in-frame methionines in the coding sequence (base pair 5094 relative to a KpnI site 5' to the gene), producing a protein that starts with the amino acid residues MAL. The Hsap\DUX4 sequence has been codon optimised for expression in Drosophila and is tagged at the N-terminal end with Tag:HA.
Flies with germline expression of Hsap\DUX4Scer\UAS.P\T.MAL.T:Ivir\HA1 driven by Scer\GAL4nos.UTR.T:Hsim\VP16 are viable, but males are sterile and have malformed testis (extremely small, with relatively normal accessory gland and anterior ejaculatory duct) and lack fully mature sperm. Females are fertile, with apparently normal ovaries. When expression of Hsap\DUX4Scer\UAS.P\T.MAL.T:Ivir\HA1 is driven by Scer\GAL4GMR.long the majority die during the pupal stage and there is extremely low (or no) male survival; all female survivors lack organized ommatidia in the eye, corneal lenses and pigment cells are completely missing, and bristles are irregularly dispersed.