Expression of spas^{dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^Act.PU drastically reduces the size and area covered by lipid droplets in the larval fat bodies. There is a significant reduction in the total triacylglycerol (TAG) content.

Expression of spas^{dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^Mef2.PU causes an excessive stabilization of the microtubule network in the larval body muscles, and results in a significant decrease in the total number and size of lipid droplets.

Expression of spas^{dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^elav.PU reduces lipid droplet number in the larval proximal ventral ganglion nerves, without affecting droplet size.

Reduction of spas levels through expression of spas^{dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^ppk.PG leads to large gaps both between neighboring class IV dendritic arbors and within the arbor of an individual neuron. spas knockdown neurons exhibit 17% more uncovered area than wild-type ddaC neurons.

Expression of spas^{dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4²²¹ has no effect on either branching or dendrite length.

Ubiquitous expression of spas^{dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^tub.PU results in 80% pupal lethality. Synaptic area is decreased and stable microtubules accumulate at the NMJ synapse. The lethality is partially rescued upon administration of the microtubule destabilizing drug vinblastine, but not nocodazole.

Flies expressing spas^{dsRNA.Scer\UAS} pan-neuronally under the control of Scer\GAL4^elav.PU are viable. Newly eclosed flies appear morphologically and behaviourally normal but lifespan is reduced compared to controls. Flies show a progressive design in climbing ability. These climbing and lifespan defects are partially rescued upon administration of the microtubule destabilizing drug vinblastine, but not with nocodazole.

Expression of spas^{dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^elav.PU results in a decrease in larval synaptic area and arborization, and stable microtubules accumulate at the NMJ synapse. These phenotypes are suppressed upon administration of vinblastine. The brains of newly eclosed flies appear normal, but aged flies display numerous vacuoles in the neuropil and cortex that are not seen in wild type flies. Apoptotic (TUNEL-positive cells) are seen in the cortex. This neurodegeneration is not suppressed by vinblastine.

No eye phenotypes are observed when spas^{dsRNA.Scer\UAS} is expressed under the control of Scer\GAL4^GMR.PU.

Adults expressing spas^{dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^elav-C155 show defects in coordination and locomotory behaviour. Expression of spas^{dsRNA.Scer\UAS} under the control of Scer\GAL4^elav-C155 results in a severe reduction of total synaptic area at the larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) compared to controls (the reduction in synaptic area at the muscle 6/7 NMJ is about 50%). These animals show a significant increase in mean excitatory junctional current (EJC) amplitude at the larval NMJ compared to controls (138.9 +/- 17.3nA compared to 85.3 +/- 3.8 nA). This increase in mean EJC amplitude can be rescued if the animals are pretreated with 3μM nocodazole before recording the current.

spas^RNAi.UAS/Scer\GAL4²²¹ is a suppressor of larval multidendritic class I neuron phenotype of Scer\GAL4²²¹, kn^UAS.cMa

spas^RNAi.UAS/Scer\GAL4²²¹ is a suppressor of dendrite phenotype of Scer\GAL4²²¹, kn^UAS.cMa

Scer\GAL4²²¹, kn^UAS.cMa, spas^RNAi.UAS has dendrite phenotype

Scer\GAL4²²¹, kn^UAS.cMa, spas^RNAi.UAS has larval dorsal multidendritic neuron ddaC phenotype

Scer\GAL4²²¹, kn^UAS.cMa, spas^RNAi.UAS has larval multidendritic class IV neuron phenotype