Project description:To investigate gene expression changes in Drosophila head tissues during social isolation, we performed RNA-sequencing on fruit fly head samples obtained from male flies that have been group-reared for 7 days (Grp), isolated (single-housed) for 7 days (Iso7) and isolated (single-housed) for only 1 day (Iso1). Using differential gene expression analysis, we found a group of candidate genes that are specific to chronic social isolation: they exhibited significant gene expression change in both comparisons of “Grp vs Iso1” and “Iso1 vs Iso7”.
Project description:We report the transcriptional profiles from individual Drosophila melanogaster (whole bodies or dissected brains) to Entomophthora muscae at 24 time points following fungal exposure. In whole fruit fly bodies, a significant immune response is observed following exposure to the fungus. In brains, few differences are consistently observed between infected and uninfected animals.
Project description:We designed this experiment to investigate the transcriptional changes in gonads as a result of sex transformation. Here we performed transcriptional profiling of the ovary transformed into testis from the tra loss of function (XX_tra_lof), testis transformed into ovary from the tra gain of function (XY_tra_gof) and ovary transformed into testis in dsxM gain of function (XX_DsxM_gof/lof) Drosophila melanogaster third instar larvae in biological quadruplicates. In addition, as controls we sequenced ovaries and testes from the female and male wildtype larvae respectively. We constructed polyA+ libraries of the gonads, cleaned off the fatbody and performed 50 bp, stranded single-end RNA-Seq.
Project description:Ribosomes have long been thought of as homogeneous macromolecular machines, but recent evidence suggests they are heterogeneous and could be specialised to regulate translation. Here, we have isolated ribosomal complexes and characterised their protein content across 4 tissues of Drosophila melanogaster via TMT-MS. We find that testes and ovaries contain the most heterogeneous ribosome populations, which occurs through a combination of ribosomal protein paralog-enrichment and ribosomal protein paralog-switching. We have also solved structures of ribosomes isolated from tissues by cryo-EM, revealing differences in precise ribosomal arrangement for testis and ovary 80S ribosomes. Differences in the amino acid composition of paralog pairs and their localisation on the ribosome exterior indicate paralog-switching could alter the ribosome surface, enabling different proteins to regulate translation. One testis-specific paralog-switching pair is also found in humans, suggesting this is a conserved site of ribosome heterogeneity. Overall, this work allows us to propose that mRNA translation might be regulated in the gonads through ribosome heterogeneity, providing a potential means of ribosome specialisation.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of 3 day old virgin male and female adults comparing control male Drosophila melanogaster (MDM) versus male D sechellia (MDS) and comparing control female Drosophila melanogaster (FDM) versus female D sechellia (FDS). Goal was to determine why D sechellia is tolerant to octanoïc acid, the major toxic compound of Morinda citrifolia fruit
Project description:Metabolites are active controllers of cellular physiology, but their role in complex behaviors is less clear. Here we report the metabolic changes that occur during the transition between hunger and satiety in Drosophila melanogaster. To analyze these data in the context of fruit fly metabolic networks, we developed Flyscape, an open-access tool. We show that in response to eating, metabolic profiles change in quick, but distinct ways in the heads and bodies. Consumption of a high sugar diet dulls the metabolic and behavioral differences between the fasted and fed state, and reshapes the way nutrients are utilized upon eating. Specifically, we found that high dietary sugar increases TCA cycle activity, alters neurochemicals, and depletes 1-carbon metabolism and brain health metabolites N-acetyl-aspartate and kynurenine. Together, our work identifies the metabolic transitions that occur during hunger and satiation, and provides a platform to study the role of metabolites and diet in complex behavior.
