<i>dPNUTS</i> loss of function results in larval growth arrest and defective tissue development.

<p>A) Genomic region showing <i>dPNUTS</i> locus flanked by <i>dribble</i> and <i>ninaA</i>. Coding regions of the genes is represented by shading. <i>dPNUTS</i> produces two transcripts <i>dPNUTS</i> and <i>dPNUTS-S</i>. <i>ninaA</i> is a non-essential gene that is expressed solely in the eye to regulate rhodopsin synthesis <a href="http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.1003885#pgen.1003885-Schneuwly1" target="_blank">[75]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.1003885#pgen.1003885-Shieh1" target="_blank">[76]</a>. <i>dPNUTS^KG572</i> contains a <i>P</i> element insertion in an untranslated region of <i>dPNUTS</i>. The extent of deletions in <i>dPNUTS^9B</i> and <i>dPNUTS^13B</i> resulting from imprecise excision of this element is indicated, together with the genomic sequence of the breakpoints. The <i>dPNUTS</i> genomic rescue construct, which contains the coding region of <i>ninaA</i>, and the 5′ end of <i>dribble</i>, is indicated. B) Levels of <i>dPNUTS</i> and <i>dPNUTS-S</i> transcripts produced in homozygous <i>dPNUTS^exKG</i>, <i>dPNUTS^KG572</i>, <i>dPNUTS^9B</i> and <i>dPNUTS^13B</i> larvae, as determined by qRT-PCR. <i>dPNUTSe^exKG</i> is a revertant strain in which the <i>P</i> element had precisely excised. C) Images of homozygous mutant and control (heterozygous sibling) larvae at different time points after egg laying as indicated. D) Graph showing percentage of surviving larvae over time for each genotype, as indicated. E) Images of adult female eyes. Homozygous <i>dPNUTS</i> mutant eyes are smaller than controls (isogenic <i>w¹¹¹⁸</i> strain), but are able to form some facets, unlike eyes expressing the proapototic gene <i>hid</i> under <i>GMR</i> control.