Expression of RpL14^{dsRNA.IR.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^toy1 or Scer\GAL4^toy2 results in lethality and a headless phenotype of pharate adults (dissected out of the pupal cases).

Expression of RpL14^{IR.dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^hs.PB using a single 30 or 60 minute heat shock of 37^oC administered to 0-12 hour old embryos results in 100% lethality at the embryonic stage or early first larval instar. Expression of RpL14^{IR.dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^hs.PB using heat shock administered to second or third instar larvae also results in 100% lethality. When RpL14^{IR.dsRNA.Scer\UAS} is expressed under the control of Scer\GAL4^hs.PB using heat shock of white pupae and prepupae, 1-2% of animals eclose and they have short, thin bristles typical of the Minute phenotype. Flies carrying RpL14^{IR.dsRNA.Scer\UAS} expressed under the control of Scer\GAL4^hs.PB which are raised continuously at 30^oC have short, thin bristles typical of Minute flies. Expression of RpL14^{IR.dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^ey.PH results in pharate adults which do not eclose from the pupal case. These pharate adults have a spectacular headless phenotype with generally only the proboscis and clypeus intact. When dissected out of the pupal case, these animals are alive but die within the next 24 hours without spreading the wings or acquiring tanned cuticle. The eye-antennal imaginal discs are missing in larvae expressing RpL14^{IR.dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^ey.PH, and the ventral ganglion is smaller than normal with fewer neurons. The salivary glands are missing in these animals. Expression of RpL14^{IR.dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^GMR.PF results in flies with a glassy, dented and rough eye phenotype. Mechanosensory bristles of the eye are missing and some areas of the eye have less pigmentation, particularly in the posterior part of the eye. Necrotic patches are seen in the eye (although they are not always present in newly eclosed flies). Most ommatidia in dented areas of the eye are flat due to a missing cornea and pseudocone, and many are pentagonal rather than the normal hexagonal shape. Some ommatidia have a hole in the middle. Expression of RpL14^{IR.dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^dpp.blk1 results in defects in the legs and wings (including vein abnormalities), a reduced scutellum and a missing arista. In many cases these adults only manage to get halfway out of the pupal case, probably due to the malformed legs. Those that manage to eclose usually die within 2 days. Expression of RpL14^{IR.dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^drl-PGAL8 results in flies with larger eyes than normal, with irregular arrays of ommatidia and missing mechanosensory bristles in the posterior part of the eye. The postvertical bristles are missing. Expression of RpL14^{IR.dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^C96 results in flies with notched wings and abnormal veins and microchaetae. Expression of RpL14^{IR.dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^AB1 results in viable third instar larvae which lack salivary glands.