Genetic analysis of oxygen defense mechanisms in Drosophila melanogaster and identification of a novel behavioural mutant with a Shaker phenotype

Genome ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 749-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
James M. Humphreys ◽  
Brenda Duyf ◽  
Mei-Ling A. Joiner ◽  
John P. Phillips ◽  
Arthur J. Hilliker
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Chromosome Region ◽  
Recessive Mutation ◽  
Ether Anaesthesia ◽  
Ros Metabolism ◽  
Chromosome Mutations ◽  
New Gene ◽  
New Alleles

Mutants of Drosophila melanogaster that lack Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase or urate are hypersensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in vivo by the redox-cycling agent paraquat. We have subsequently employed paraquat as a selective agent to identify adult viable mutants potentially defective in other, perhaps unknown, components of ROS metabolism. Paraquat screening of ethyl methanesulfonate-induced second- and third-chromosome mutations yielded 24 paraquat hypersensitive mutants. Two mutants were identified as being new alleles of the previously identified doublesex (dsx) and pink (p) genes. The remainder of the mutations identified previously undescribed genes, including one second chromosome paraquat hypersensitive mutant that was found to exhibit shaking legs, abdomen pulsations, and body shuddering under ether anaesthesia. This recessive mutation was mapped to the polytene chromosome region of 48A5–48B2 and defines a new gene we named quiver (qvr). This mutation is similar in phenotype to the Shaker (Sh), ether-a-gogo (eag), and Hyperkinetic (Hk) mutations, all of which affect potassium channel function in D. melanogaster. Key words : Drosophila, paraquat, EMS-mutagenesis, Shaker, oxidative-stress.

scholarly journals Anthocyanin Pigments: Beyond Aesthetics

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (23) ◽  
pp. 5500
Author(s):  
Bindhu Alappat ◽  
Jayaraj Alappat
Keyword(s):  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Structural Modification ◽  
Synthetic Methods ◽  
Isolation And Identification ◽  
Polyphenol Compounds ◽  
Structural Modifications ◽  
New Gene ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Vegetables And Fruits

Anthocyanins are polyphenol compounds that render various hues of pink, red, purple, and blue in flowers, vegetables, and fruits. Anthocyanins also play significant roles in plant propagation, ecophysiology, and plant defense mechanisms. Structurally, anthocyanins are anthocyanidins modified by sugars and acyl acids. Anthocyanin colors are susceptible to pH, light, temperatures, and metal ions. The stability of anthocyanins is controlled by various factors, including inter and intramolecular complexations. Chromatographic and spectrometric methods have been extensively used for the extraction, isolation, and identification of anthocyanins. Anthocyanins play a major role in the pharmaceutical; nutraceutical; and food coloring, flavoring, and preserving industries. Research in these areas has not satisfied the urge for natural and sustainable colors and supplemental products. The lability of anthocyanins under various formulated conditions is the primary reason for this delay. New gene editing technologies to modify anthocyanin structures in vivo and the structural modification of anthocyanin via semi-synthetic methods offer new opportunities in this area. This review focusses on the biogenetics of anthocyanins; their colors, structural modifications, and stability; their various applications in human health and welfare; and advances in the field.

Insights into amyloid disease from fly models

2014 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 69-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ko-Fan Chen ◽  
Damian C. Crowther
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Disease Pathogenesis ◽  
Amyloid Aggregates ◽  
Aβ Amyloid ◽  
Polypeptide Chains ◽  
Amyloid Diseases

The formation of amyloid aggregates is a feature of most, if not all, polypeptide chains. In vivo modelling of this process has been undertaken in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster with remarkable success. Models of both neurological and systemic amyloid diseases have been generated and have informed our understanding of disease pathogenesis in two main ways. First, the toxic amyloid species have been at least partially characterized, for example in the case of the Aβ (amyloid β-peptide) associated with Alzheimer's disease. Secondly, the genetic underpinning of model disease-linked phenotypes has been characterized for a number of neurodegenerative disorders. The current challenge is to integrate our understanding of disease-linked processes in the fly with our growing knowledge of human disease, for the benefit of patients.

scholarly journals MULTIPLE ALLELE APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF GENES IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER THAT ARE INVOLVED IN IMAGINAL DISC DEVELOPMENT

Genetics ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen Shearn ◽  
Grafton Hersperger ◽  
Evelyn Hersperger ◽  
Ellen Steward Pentz ◽  
Paul Denker
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Phenotypic Variation ◽  
Mutant Allele ◽  
Imaginal Disc ◽  
Reference Allele ◽  
Multiple Allele ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Chromosome Mutations ◽  
Cold Sensitive

ABSTRACT The phenotypes of five different lethal mutants of Drosophila melanogaster that have small imaginal discs were analyzed in detail. From these results, we inferred whether or not the observed imaginal disc phenotype resulted exclusively from a primary imaginal disc defect in each mutant. To examine the validity of these inferences, we employed a multiple-allele method. Lethal alleles of the five third-chromosome mutations were identified by screening EMS-treated chromosomes for those which fail to complement with a chromosome containing all five reference mutations. Twenty-four mutants were isolated from 13,197 treated chromosomes. Each of the 24 was then tested for complementation with each of the five reference mutants. There was no significant difference in the mutation frequencies at these five loci. The stage of lethality and the imaginal disc morphology of each mutant allele were compared to those of its reference allele in order to examine the range of defects to be found among lethal alleles of each locus. In addition, hybrids of the alleles were examined for intracistronic complementation. For two of the five loci, we detected no significant phenotypic variation among lethal alleles. We infer that each of the mutant alleles at these two loci cause expression of the null activity phenotype. However, for the three other loci, we did detect significant phenotypic variation among lethal alleles. In fact, one of the mutant alleles at each of these three loci causes no detectable imaginal disc defect. This demonstrates that attempting to assess the developmental role of a gene by studying a single mutant allele may lead to erroneous conclusions. As a byproduct of the mutagenesis procedure, we have isolated two dominant, cold-sensitive mutants.

scholarly journals Characterization and in Vivo Cloning of prlC, a Suppressor of Signal Sequence Mutations in Escherichia coli K12

Genetics ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 513-521
Author(s):  
Nancy J Trun ◽  
Thomas J Silhavy
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Genetic Mapping ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Illegitimate Recombination ◽  
Mutant Phenotype ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Physical Location ◽  
Sequence Deletion ◽  
New Alleles

ABSTRACT The prlC gene of E. coli was originally identified as an allele, prlC1, which suppresses certain signal sequence mutations in the genes for several exported proteins. We have isolated six new alleles of prlC that also confer this phenotype. These mutations can be placed into three classes based on the degree to which they suppress the lamBsignal sequence deletion, lamBs78. Genetic mapping reveals that the physical location of the mutations in prlC correlates with the strength of the suppression, suggesting that different regions of the gene can be altered to yield a suppressor phenotype. We also describe an in vivo cloning procedure using λplacMu9H. The procedure relies on transposition and illegitimate recombination to generate a specialized transducing phage that carries prlC1. This method should be applicable to any gene for which there is a mutant phenotype.

scholarly journals Synthesis, Quantification, and Characterization of Fatty Acid Amides from In Vitro and In Vivo Sources

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 2543
Author(s):  
Ruidong Ni ◽  
Suzeeta Bhandari ◽  
Perry R. Mitchell ◽  
Gabriela Suarez ◽  
Neel B. Patel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Chemical Synthesis ◽  
Acid Amide ◽  
Fatty Acid Amides ◽  
Fatty Acid Amide

Fatty acid amides are a diverse family of underappreciated, biologically occurring lipids. Herein, the methods for the chemical synthesis and subsequent characterization of specific members of the fatty acid amide family are described. The synthetically prepared fatty acid amides and those obtained commercially are used as standards for the characterization and quantification of the fatty acid amides produced by biological systems, a fatty acid amidome. The fatty acid amidomes from mouse N18TG2 cells, sheep choroid plexus cells, Drosophila melanogaster, Bombyx mori, Apis mellifera, and Tribolium castaneum are presented.

scholarly journals In Vivo and In Vitro Assays Evaluating the Biological Activity of Taurine, Glucose and Energetic Beverages

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2198
Author(s):  
Marcos Mateo-Fernández ◽  
Fernando Valenzuela-Gómez ◽  
Rafael Font ◽  
Mercedes Del Río-Celestino ◽  
Tania Merinas-Amo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Biological Activity ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Methylation Status ◽  
Repetitive Sequences ◽  
Energy Drinks ◽  
Red Bull

Taurine is one of the main ingredients used in energy drinks which are highly consumed in adolescents for their sugary taste and stimulating effect. With energy drinks becoming a worldwide phenomenon, the biological effects of these beverages must be evaluated in order to fully comprehend the potential impact of these products on the health due to the fact nutrition is closely related to science since the population consumes food to prevent certain diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the biological effects of taurine, glucose, classic Red Bull® and sugar-free Red Bull® in order to check the food safety and the nutraceutical potential of these compounds, characterising different endpoints: (i) Toxicology, antitoxicology, genotoxicology and life expectancy assays were performed in the Drosophila melanogaster model organism; (ii) The in vitro chemopreventive activity of testing compounds was determined by assessing their cytotoxicity, the proapoptotic DNA-damage capability to induce internucleosomal fragmentation, the strand breaks activity and the modulator role on the methylation status of genomic repetitive sequences of HL-60 promyelocytic cells. Whereas none tested compounds showed toxic or genotoxic effect, all tested compounds exerted antitoxic and antigenotoxic activity in Drosophila. Glucose, classic Red Bull® and sugar-free Red Bull® were cytotoxic in HL-60 cell line. Classic Red Bull® induced DNA internucleosomal fragmentation although none of them exhibited DNA damage on human leukaemia cells. In conclusion, the tested compounds are safe on Drosophila melanogaster and classic Red Bull® could overall possess nutraceutical potential in the in vivo and in vitro model used in this study. Besides, taurine could holistically be one of the bioactive compounds responsible for the biological activity of classic Red Bull®.

scholarly journals Influence of Dopamine on Fluorescent Advanced Glycation End Products Formation Using Drosophila melanogaster

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 453
Author(s):  
Ana Filošević Vujnović ◽  
Katarina Jović ◽  
Emanuel Pištan ◽  
Rozi Andretić Waldowski
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Advanced Glycation End Products ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Covalent Modification ◽  
Advanced Glycation ◽  
Biomarkers Of Aging ◽  
Glycation End Products ◽  
End Products

Non-enzymatic glycation and covalent modification of proteins leads to Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs). AGEs are biomarkers of aging and neurodegenerative disease, and can be induced by impaired neuronal signaling. The objective of this study was to investigate if manipulation of dopamine (DA) in vitro using the model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), and in vivo using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, influences fluorescent AGEs (fAGEs) formation as an indicator of dopamine-induced oxidation events. DA inhibited fAGEs-BSA synthesis in vitro, suggesting an anti-oxidative effect, which was not observed when flies were fed DA. Feeding flies cocaine and methamphetamine led to increased fAGEs formation. Mutants lacking the dopaminergic transporter or the D1-type showed further elevation of fAGEs accumulation, indicating that the long-term perturbation in DA function leads to higher production of fAGEs. To confirm that DA has oxidative properties in vivo, we fed flies antioxidant quercetin (QUE) together with methamphetamine. QUE significantly decreased methamphetamine-induced fAGEs formation suggesting that the perturbation of DA function in vivo leads to increased oxidation. These findings present arguments for the use of fAGEs as a biomarker of DA-associated neurodegenerative changes and for assessment of antioxidant interventions such as QUE treatment.

scholarly journals PRESENCE OF A BASE LINE LEVEL OF SISTER CHROMATID EXCHANGES IN SOMATIC CELLS OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER IN VIVO AND IN VITRO

Genetics ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-278
Author(s):  
Hideo Tsuji
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Sister Chromatid ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Sister Chromatid Exchanges ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Cell Cycles ◽  
Chromatid Exchanges ◽  
Third Instar Larvae

ABSTRACT Sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) under in vivo and in vitro conditions were examined in ganglion cells of third-instar larvae of Drosophila melanogaster (Oregon-R). In the in vivo experiment, third-instar larvae were fed on synthetic media containing 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd). After two cell cycles, ganglia were dissected and treated with colchicine. In the in vitro experiment, the ganglia were also incubated in media containing BrdUrd for two cell cycles, and treated with colchicine. SCEs were scored in metaphase stained with Hoechst 33258 plus Giemsa. The frequencies of SCEs stayed constant in the range of 25-150 vg/ml and 0.25-2.5 vg/ml of BrdUrd in vivo and in vitro, respectively. SCEs gradually increased at higher concentrations, strongly suggesting that at least a fraction of the detected SCEs are spontaneous. The constant levels of SCE frequency were estimated, on the average, at 0.103 per cell per two cell cycles for females and 0.101 for males in vivo and at 0.096 for females and 0.091 for males in vitro. No difference was found in the SCE frequency between sexes at any of the BrdUrd concentrations. The analysis for the distribution of SCEs within chromosomes revealed an extraordinarily high proportion of the SCEs at the junctions between euchromatin and heterochromatin; the remaining SCEs were preferentially localized in the euchromatic regions of the chromosomes and in the heterochromatic Y chromosome. These results were largely inconsistent with those of Gatti et al. (1979).

scholarly journals The Structure–Properties–Cytotoxicity Interplay: A Crucial Pathway to Determining Graphene Oxide Biocompatibility

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 5401
Author(s):  
Marta Dziewięcka ◽  
Mirosława Pawlyta ◽  
Łukasz Majchrzycki ◽  
Katarzyna Balin ◽  
Sylwia Barteczko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Graphene Oxide ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Physicochemical Analysis ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Acheta Domesticus ◽  
Synthesis Process ◽  
Synthesis Methods ◽  
Toxicity Potential ◽  
Potential Applications

Interest in graphene oxide nature and potential applications (especially nanocarriers) has resulted in numerous studies, but the results do not lead to clear conclusions. In this paper, graphene oxide is obtained by multiple synthesis methods and generally characterized. The mechanism of GO interaction with the organism is hard to summarize due to its high chemical activity and variability during the synthesis process and in biological buffers’ environments. When assessing the biocompatibility of GO, it is necessary to take into account many factors derived from nanoparticles (structure, morphology, chemical composition) and the organism (species, defense mechanisms, adaptation). This research aims to determine and compare the in vivo toxicity potential of GO samples from various manufacturers. Each GO sample is analyzed in two concentrations and applied with food. The physiological reactions of an easy model Acheta domesticus (cell viability, apoptosis, oxidative defense, DNA damage) during ten-day lasting exposure were observed. This study emphasizes the variability of the GO nature and complements the biocompatibility aspect, especially in the context of various GO-based experimental models. Changes in the cell biomarkers are discussed in light of detailed physicochemical analysis.

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