Adults expressing List^GD2072 under the control of Scer\GAL4^elav.PLu (in the presence of Dcr-2^Scer\UAS.cDa to increase the efficiency of RNAi) do not show a significant defect in avoidance of noxious temperature (46[o]C) compared to control flies.

Animals expressing List^GD2072 under the control of Scer\GAL4^da.G32 appear normal with respect to development and morphology when raised under standard conditions. The general motor activity of 2 day old flies is normal and their lifespan is comparable to that of wild-type controls.

Animals expressing List^GD2072 under the control of Scer\GAL4^da.G32 show increased sensitivity to lithium toxicity compared to wild type; one day after being transferred onto food containing 50mM LiCl, the flies become uncoordinated and their climbing behaviour is severely impaired (wild-type flies are little affected under these conditions).

Continuous exposure of animals expressing List^GD2072 under the control of Scer\GAL4^da.G32 to 50mM LiCl results in 50% and 100% mortality within 3.1 and 5.0 days, respectively (compared to 39.3 and 65.0 days respectively for 50% and 100% mortality in wild-type flies under these conditions). This toxic effect of LiCl on the mutant flies is dose dependent.

Expression of List^GD2072 under the control of either Scer\GAL4^Act5C.PU or Scer\GAL4^tub.PU also results in a lithium-susceptible phenotype, with a significant reduction in viability after 4 days of treatment with 50mM LiCl.

Treatment with 50mM NaCl or 50mM KCl has little effect on the viability of flies expressing List^GD2072 under the control of Scer\GAL4^da.G32.

Animals expressing List^GD2072 under the control of Scer\GAL4^nrv2.PS appear normal with respect to development and morphology and have normal climbing ability and viability in the absence of lithium treatment. However, these flies show significantly increased susceptibility to 100mM LiCl compared to wild-type controls.

Animals expressing List^GD2072 under the control of either Scer\GAL4^elav.PU or Scer\GAL4^Mhc.PU have normal sensitivity to lithium.

Expression under the control of Scer\GAL4^pnr-MD237 may result in semi-lethality, depending on the insertion line used.