UAS regulatory sequences drive expression of a mir-9a "sponge" sequence, which consists of ten repetitive mir-9a complementary sequences with mismatches at positions 9-12 separated by a variable four-nucleotide linker. The sponge sequence is inserted into 3'UTR sequence downstream of the mCherry coding region, to enhance stability.
wing, with Scer\GAL4Ilp2.PR
Expression of mir-9asponge.Scer\UAS.T:Disc\RFP-mCherry under the control of Scer\GAL4Hk-UH3 (during myofibril assembly) has no detrimental effect on flight ability of the emerging adults which also display no morphological abnormalities in their dorsal longitudinal muscles.
Expression of mir-9asponge.Scer\UAS.T:Disc\RFP-mCherry under the control of Scer\GAL4Ilp2.PR results in increases in body length, wing length and pupal volume. Haemolymph glucose and trehalose levels are reduced. Expression of mir-9asponge.Scer\UAS.T:Disc\RFP-mCherry in insulin-producing cells under the control of Scer\GAL4Ilp2.PR increases wing cell size and number.
Expression of mir-9asponge.Scer\UAS.T:Disc\RFP-mCherry outside of the insulin-producing cells (under the control of Scer\GAL4tub.PU and Scer\GAL80ts.Ilp2 at the permissive temperature) results in a reduction in body length compared with controls but Ilp2 expression is unaffected. A significant reduction in body length is also seen when mir-9asponge.Scer\UAS.T:Disc\RFP-mCherry is expressed everywhere (at the restrictive temperature) but Ilp2 expression is increased.
Scer\GAL4Ilp2.PR, mir-9asponge.UAS.mCherry has visible phenotype, suppressible by sNPF-R[+]/sNPF-RMI00427
One copy of sNPF-RMI00427 significantly suppresses the increase in body length seen when mir-9asponge.Scer\UAS.T:Disc\RFP-mCherry is expressed under the control of Scer\GAL4Ilp2.PR.
The inability to fly along with severe structural defects in their indirect flight muscles (broken muscle fibers, disorganized sarcomere) characteristic for flies expressing mir-9aScer\UAS.T:Ppyr\LUC under the control of Scer\GAL4Hk-UH3 is rescued by co-expression of mir-9asponge.Scer\UAS.T:Disc\RFP-mCherry.