JNK and DPP signaling are altered in wing imaginal discs following depletion of Tap42.

<p>The activity and expression of BSK was monitored in wing imaginal discs using antibodies recognizing phospho-JNK or total JNK. The pattern of active JNK/BSK (green, A1-3) was not different between control <i>UAS-Tap42^RNAi</i> flies (A1) and flies co-expressing the <i>pnr</i> driver (A2). However, hyperphosphorylation of JNK/BSK was observed in the wing disc dorsal compartment (red arrows) along with hypophosphorylation of JNK/BSK in the ventral wing compartment when <i>Tap42^RNAi</i> was driven by <i>ap-Gal4</i> (A3). Total levels of JNK/BSK (green, B1-B3) did not change as a result of <i>Tap42</i> knockdown. <i>Dpp</i> gene expression (purple, C1-C3), as monitored by X-GAL staining of <i>dpp-LaZ</i>, in the scutellum and along the anterior/posterior boundary of the wing blade was similar in both control (C1) and <i>pnr</i>-<i>Gal4</i> driven <i>Tap42^RNAi</i> flies (C2). <i>ap-Gal4</i> driven <i>Tap42^RNAi</i> flies demonstrated decreased DPP signal in the scutellum (red arrow, C3) and expanded staining in the wing blade compartment (red dashed line, C3). Genotypes: (A1, B1, & C1) <i>UAS-Tap42^RNAi/+</i> as control. (A2, B2, & C2) <i>UAS-Tap42^RNAi/+; pnr-Gal4/+</i>. (A3, B3, & C3) <i>ap-Gal4/UAS-Tap42^RNAi; +/+</i>.