Sex and Genetic Background Influence Superoxide Dismutase (cSOD)-Related Phenotypic Variation in Drosophila melanogaster.

ABSTRACT: Mutations often have drastically different effects in different genetic backgrounds; understanding a gene's biological function then requires an understanding of its interaction with genetic diversity. The antioxidant enzyme cytosolic copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (cSOD) catalyzes the dismutation of the superoxide radical, a molecule that can induce oxidative stress if its concentration exceeds cellular control. Accordingly, Drosophila melanogaster lacking functional cSOD exhibit a suite of phenotypes including decreased longevity, hypersensitivity to oxidative stress, impaired locomotion, and reduced NADP(H) enzyme activity in males. To date, cSOD-null phenotypes have primarily been characterized using males carrying one allele, cSodⁿ¹⁰⁸red, in a single genetic

SUBMITTER: Lessel CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5555470 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature