Fig. 2: The deformation of sensilla housing Or42b neurons upon humidity change.

a Schematic depicting the experimental set up for sensilla imaging, the two humidity stimulations applied was indicated on the right. b Time-lapse images showing curvature changes of ab1 sensilla when challenged with sequentially applied dry-moist-dry airflows, the ab1 sensillum labeled by CD4-tdGFP is indicated by a white arrow. Scale bar, 10 μm. c Zoomed in images of the GFP positive sensillum indicated in (b), dashed lines represent the curves fitted to the shape of the sensillum. Scale bar, 5 μm. d Images showing morphology of ab1 sensilla when challenged with switches of dry airflows without altering the humidity. Scale bar, 10 μm. e Zoomed in images of the GFP positive sensillum indicated in (d). Scale bar, 5 μm. b–e Representative images from over three independent replicated experiments. f Summary of curvature change of GFP positive sensilla under dry-dry-dry or dry-moist-dry air stimuli. n = 12 and 14 sensilla. Data are mean ± SEM., two-way ANOVA followed by Sidak’s post hoc test. Genotype of flies used for (b–f) was Or42b-Gal4/UAS-CD4-tdGFP. g Scatter plot of deformation ratio (increase rate of radius of curvature) versus the initial radius of curvature for all 25 large basiconic sensilla (both GFP positive and GFP negative) that responded to moist air. n = 25 sensilla. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.