Inducing extra copies of the Hsp70 gene in Drosophila melanogaster increases energetic demand.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mutations that increase gene expression are predicted to increase energy allocation to transcription, translation and protein function. Despite an appreciation that energetic tradeoffs may constrain adaptation, the energetic costs of increased gene expression are challenging to quantify and thus easily ignored when modeling the evolution of gene expression, particularly for multicellular organisms. Here we use the well-characterized, inducible heat-shock response to test whether expressing additional copies of the Hsp70 gene increases energetic demand in Drosophila melanogaster.

Results

We measured metabolic rates of larvae with different copy numbers of the Hsp70 gene to quantify energy expenditure before, during, and after exposure to 36°C, a temperature known t

SUBMITTER: Hoekstra LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3641968 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature