Fig. 5: LP^WJL volatiles modulate the Hippo-Merlin-Yorkie pathway via non-olfactory OR42b.

In all cases, germ-free embryos were treated either without (−) or with (+) inhalation of LP^WJL volatiles during entire larval stages. Larvae at 144 h AEL were used. a Membrane colocalization of Merlin and OR42b in the absence of LP^WJL volatiles, and dispersal of membrane Merlin-OR42b following the exposure to LP^WJL volatiles. Enterocytes from OR42b-FLAG knock-in animals carrying Merlin-YFP were stained. Phalloidin staining was performed to visualize the brush border membrane of enterocytes. b Nuclear Yorkie translocation of enterocytes following the exposure to LP^WJL volatiles. Staining of Dlg, a septate junction marker, and DAPI were included to facilitate visualization of the cytoplasmic and nuclear regions of individual cells. c LP^WJL volatile-independent constitutive membrane localization of OR42b^DN. Enterocytes from OR42b^DN-FLAG knock-in animals were stained. Membrane localization of Merlin (d) and nuclear localization of Yorkie (e) in enterocytes from GF Da-Gal4 control, GF Da-Gal4 > UAS-OR42b^DN, and GF Da-Gal4 > UAS-OR42b-RNAi animals. Nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio of Yorkie was shown (e). n = 3 biologically independent experiments. f A model for Hippo/Yorkie pathway in OR42b wildtype, dominant-negative, and RNAi/knockout. Data are mean ± s.e.m. P values (***p < 0.001, ns not significant) are indicated; two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparison test in (e). The gut is arranged from anterior to posterior, moving from top to bottom in the photo (a–e). Nuclei were stained with DAPI in blue. Scale bar, 50 μm. Genotypes, sample sizes, and statistical analyses are shown in Supplementary Data 1. Source data are provided in the Source Data file.