GMR regulatory sequences drive expression of Pink1 carrying the non-phosphorylatable mutation S346A (mutated residue is a conserved autophosphorylation site which appears to be the sole autophosphorylation site in Pink1). In addition, the N-terminal 93 amino acids of Pink1 have been replaced with the Tag:Mito(Tom20) outer mitochondrial membrane anchor signal and the protein is tagged with GFP.
Adult flies expresing Pink1S346A.GMR.T:Mito-Tom20,T:Avic\GFP together with parkS94A.GMR.T:Zzzz\FLAG show moderate loss of photoreceptor cells compared to controls but the gross eye morphology is not strongly affected.
Pink1S346A.GMR.Tag:Mito(Tom20),GFP fails to rescue Pink1B9
The reduced climbing ability, abnormal swollen mitochondria, disorganized muscle fibres as well as the decreased number of brain dopaminergic neurons characteristic for Pink1B9 adults cannot be rescued by combination with Pink1S346A.GMR.T:Mito-Tom20,T:Avic\GFP.