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Effectiveness of Eliciting EGFR Loss-of-function Phenotypes Upon Expression of RNA Interference in Drosophila

Development of Drosophila tissues depends on proper function of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). Our goal was to determine which of four RNA interference lines were most effective in eliciting loss-of-function phenotypes when the expression of egfr was knocked down in different tissues. The Valium20 vector produces short hairpin RNA, while Valium10 and VDRC produce long hairpin RNA. As Egfr signaling is required for vein formation, we examined the effect of knockdown in wings. In some cases, results were so severe that the wings no longer functioned. Other times, knockdown produced wings with reduced vein formation. We used the lzGal4 driver to express RNAi in the eye. Eyes had >200 to 0 ommatidia. We also used the simGal4 driver to knock down EGFR expression in the midline glial cells, and this resulted in fusion of the anterior and posterior commissures.