Dspastin dosage affects LD number and size in fat bodies and TAG levels in the larvae.

<p>(A) Fat bodies of larvae expressing DspastinRNAi, Dspastin^K467R and Dspastin using actin-Gal4 were stained with BODIPY 493/503 to visualize LDs. Control genotype (actin-Gal4/+). Downregulation of Dspastin and expression of K467R mutation cause a decrease of LDs and TAG content, whereas overexpression of Dspastin produces fewer and bigger LDs causing an increase of larval TAG content. Scale bar, 50 μm. (B-D) Quantification of LDs number (B), LD total area (C) and LDs size distribution (D) of genotypes shown in A. (E) Biochemical determination of TAG level from third instar larvae. Significance was calculated using unpaired t-test (two-tailed) in B, C and E and Mann-Whitney test in D. Differences were considered statistically significant at p<0.05 (*) and p<0.005 (**).