Required in dopaminergic neurons to regulate expression of genes involved in dopamine signaling. Decreases expression of the dopamine transporter DAT and increases expression of the dopamine transporter Vmat and the tyrosine 3-monooxygenase ple which is involved in dopamine biosynthesis. Also involved in negatively regulating the expression of a group of endoplasmic reticulum proteins, the molecular chaperone Calr and the protein disulfide isomerases CaBP1 and ERp60. In the adult brain, expressed almost exclusively in dopaminergic neurons. Expressed only in the adult. By starvation. RNAi-mediated knockdown in the central nervous system (CNS) during development increases the expression of CaBP1, Calr and ERp60 and regulates expression of other genes involved in a variety of processes including oxidative phosphorylation and redox reactions, lipid and sugar homeostasis, and translation. It increases susceptibility to starvation but has no effect on feeding behavior. It increases triacylglyceride (TAG) levels in normal-fed flies but has no effect on TAG levels 12 or 24 hours after starvation. It also induces a heightened startle-response, increases hyperactivity and reduces sleep. RNAi-mediated knockdown specifically in dopaminergic neurons throughout development influences the expression of genes involved in dopamine signaling by increasing expression of ple and Vmat and decreasing expression of DAT. It also recapitulates the effects seen following CNS knockdown, namely increased susceptibility to starvation, heightened startle-response and reduced sleep. RNAi-mediated knockdown specifically in the adult CNS increases resistance to starvation with no effect on feeding behavior, decreases TAG levels in normal-fed flies and has no effect on hyperactivity or sleep. Belongs to the ETS family.