Fig. 8. Biochemical analysis of potential interactions between Dd-STATb and other STATs. (A) Growing cells were lysed and subjected to immunoprecipitation using the C:STATb antibody and the pellet was assayed for the three STATs using the analysis protocol described on the figure. (B) Genetic analysis of potential interactions between Dd-STATb and other STATs. Slugs were generated using either Ax-2 cells or cells that are null for both the Dd-STATa and the Dd-STATc genes. The latter strain was created by sequential inactivation, using ura and blasticidin disruption cassettes (Kawata et al., 1996; Kalpaxis et al., 1991). Absence of both STAT proteins in the selected strain was confirmed immunochemically. Whole-mount slugs were fixed and stained using the C:STATb antibody and visualised by confocal microscopy. Only the front approximate half of each slug is shown and their tips are facing left.