Astrocyte transformation correlates strongly with Beat-VaM neurite fragmentation. (A–A″) Astrocytes expressing a UAS-LacZ (control) labeled with a membrane-targeted GFP (UAS-mCD8::GFP) at wL3 (A), 4 h APF (A′), and HE (A″). (B–E″) Astrocytes expressing UAS-DIPζ^RNAi (B–B″), UAS-CG3164^RNAi (C–C″), UAS-Fipi^RNAi (D–D″), UAS-Dpr2^RNAi (E–E″) labeled with a membrane-targeted GFP (UAS-mCD8::GFP) at wL3, 4APF, and HE. All manipulations show a stark lack of transformation of astrocytes into phagocytes at 4 h APF, as evidenced by lack of vesicles (B′–E′). (F–H″) Astrocytes expressing UAS-Babo^RNAi (F–F″), UAS-Htl^RNAi (G–G″), UAS-Kek5^RNAi (H–H″). Knockdown of these genes do not noticeably disrupt the transformation of astrocytes into phagocytes, as all 4 h APF animals (F′–H′) still exhibit vesicle formation. Scale bars are 20 µm. Yellow arrows denote correctly formed phagocytic veiscles.