Fig. 9

Isoform-specific RNAi based on new genome annotations affects the molting and cuticle identity gene broad. a Genomic organization of the cuticle identity gene broad. The regions used as a template to generate isoform-specific dsRNA are indicated (red asterisks: the final, unique exons of each isoform). Previous RNAi studies targeted sequence within exons 1–5 that is shared among all isoforms (dashed red box, [92]). b Knockdown of the Oncopeltus Z2 or Z3 broad isoforms at the onset of the penultimate instar resulted in altered nymphal survival and morphogenesis that was reflected in the size and proportion of the fore and hind wings at the adult stage (upper and lower images, respectively, shown to the same scale for all wings). We did not detect any effect on the wing phenotype when targeting the Z4-specific exon, demonstrating the specificity of the zinc finger coding region targeted by RNAi. Experimental statistics are provided in the figure inset, including for the buffer-injected negative control