ScerGAL4Lkr.2 drives expression in a dense and complex mesh of neurons in the adult brain. A subset of these neurons project to or have cell bodies in the adult pars intercerebralis, adult gnathal ganglion, ellipsoid body, lateral horn and fan-shaped body. Neurons in the lateral horn arborize in the posterior part of the brain and dendrites, defined by a dendritic marker, overlap extensively with projections from Lk positive adult Leucokinin LHKL lateral horn neurons, while synapses, defined by a presynaptic marker, are found in the posterior part of the brain, primarily the ellipsoid body and fan-shaped body but also the adult gnathal ganglion.
Ablation (using rprUAS.cUa) of Scer\GAL4Lkr.2 cells in adult males causes significant over-feeding following starvation, resulting in abdominal bloating and an overfilled crop, compared to controls; non-starved flies have significantly increased meal size and significantly reduced meal frequency, resulting in similar overall food intake, compared to controls.