Figure 4

DAR-2 influences the interactions between AKH and DILP signaling.

(A,B) Expression of genes related to DILP signaling in males (A) and females (B) with reduced Dar-2 expression in the APCs (Akh > Dar-2-RNAi). Changes in dilp2 and -3 expression in Akh > Dar-2-RNAi animals suggest an interaction between AstA-regulated signaling from the APCs and DILP signaling that is sexually dimorphic based on the opposing effects on 4EBP in males and females (C,D) Effects on expression of genes related to DILP signaling by increasing (Akh > Akh) or decreasing (Akh > Grim) AKH levels in males (C) and females (D) supports a sexually dimorphic interaction between AKH and DILP signaling. (E,F) Expression of genes related to AKH signaling in males (A) and females (B) with reduced Dar-2 expression in the IPCs (dilp2 > Dar-2-RNAi). Increased akhr expression in female dilp2 > Dar-2-RNAi indicate that AstA-regulated DILP signaling directly or indirectly influences AKH signaling. UAS-Dicer2 was included to enhance the RNAi effect. Ctrl: UAS-Dicer2, UAS-Dar-2-RNAi/+. Error bars indicate standard errors (n = 4). *: P < 0.05; **: P < 0.01; ***: P < 0.001 (Student’s t-test).