Muscle-type specific transcriptomic expression patterns in Drosophila

To complement our existing data on developmental gene expression changes in flight muscle (IFM) development in Drosophila (GSE107247, GSE63707), we performed mRNA-Seq on dissected leg samples at three stages during pupal development (30, 50 and 72h APF). We further sequenced an additional timepoint at 24h APF for RNAi knockdown of aret (Bru1) in flight muscle. Comparison of splicing and expression profiles of sarcomeric genes allowed us to identify muscle-type specific differences in gene and isoform expression between fibrillar flight muscle and tubular leg muscle. We can further trace the dynamics of exon usage in sarcomere genes across the developmental timecourse, allowing us to identify events the switch during muscle differentiation and maturation. Overall design: Design 1: aret (Bru1) RNAi IFM at 24h APF (versus WT IFM at 24h APF from GSE107247); Design 2: timecourse of whole leg gene expression at imaginal disc (myoblast), 30h, 50h and 72h APF.