Figure 2

Representative macroarray and dot blot results. (a) Duplicate macroarrays were probed separately with mRNAs that were labeled with digoxigenin (DIG) after isolation from worker or soldier R. flavipes. Shown are representative autoradiograms from arrays probed with worker (left) or soldier (right) mRNAs. (b-c) Plasmid DNA was obtained from array-positive cultures and spotted on duplicate membranes in equal quantities. The resulting dot blots were probed with aliquots of the same DIG-labeled worker or soldier mRNA pools that were used to probe the array membranes originally. The secondary dot blots verified elevated transcript abundance in approximately 50% of instances. Examples of worker- and soldier-associated cDNAs are in positions noted by squares and diamonds, respectively, while a control gene with similar expression (actin-related protein 66B) is circled.