Project description:Background. Juvenile hormone (JH) has been demonstrated to control adult lifespan in a number of non-model insects where surgical removal of the corpora allata eliminates the hormone’s source. In contrast, little is known about how juvenile hormone affects adult Drosophila melanogaster. Previous work suggests that insulin signaling may modulate Drosophila aging in part through its impact on juvenile hormone titer, but no data yet addresses whether reduction of juvenile hormone is sufficient to control Drosophila life span. Here we adapt a recent genetic approach to knock out the corpora allata in adult Drosophila melanogaster and characterize adult life history phenotypes produced by reduction of juvenile hormone. With this system we test potential explanations for how juvenile hormone modulates aging. Conclusions. Reduced juvenile hormone alone is sufficient to extend lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster. Reduced juvenile hormone limits reproduction by inhibiting the production of yolked eggs, and this may arise because juvenile hormone is required for the post-eclosion development of vitellogenin-producing adult fat body. Our data do not support a mechanism for juvenile hormone control of longevity simply based on reducing the physiological costs of reproductive. Nor does the longevity benefit appear to function through mechanisms by which dietary restriction extends longevity. We identify transcripts that change in response to juvenile hormone independent of reproductive state and suggest these represent somatically expressed genes that could modulate how juvenile hormone controls persistence and longevity.
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:Background. Juvenile hormone (JH) has been demonstrated to control adult lifespan in a number of non-model insects where surgical removal of the corpora allata eliminates the source of hormone. In contrast, little is known about how juvenile hormone affects adult Drosophila melanogaster. Previous work suggests that insulin signaling may modulate Drosophila aging in part through its impact on juvenile hormone titer, but no data yet addresses whether reduction of juvenile hormone is sufficient to control Drosophila life span. Here we adapt a recent genetic approach to knock out the corpora allata in adult Drosophila melanogaster and characterize adult life history phenotypes produced by reduction of juvenile hormone. With this system we test potential explanations for how juvenile hormone modulates aging. Conclusions. Reduced juvenile hormone alone is sufficient to extend lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster. Reduced juvenile hormone limits reproduction by inhibiting the production of yolked eggs, and this may arise because juvenile hormone is required for the post-eclosion development of vitellogenin-producing adult fat body. Our data do not support a mechanism for juvenile hormone control of longevity simply based on reducing the physiological costs of reproductive. Nor does the longevity benefit appear to function through mechanisms by which dietary restriction extends longevity. We identify transcripts that change in response to juvenile hormone independent of reproductive state and suggest these represent somatically expressed genes that could modulate how juvenile hormone controls persistence and longevity. Four genotypes were analyzed. They are CA knockout (CAKO), wildtype (wDah/w1118 ), CAKO with OvoD1 mutation and control (wDah/w1118) with OvoD1 mutation. Three biological replicates for each genotype.
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.
Project description:STING is a protein that plays important role in innate immune response. However, it also has functions not related to immunity. We studied role of STING in fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We used microarray to detect gene expression changes in dSTING knockout fruit flies. We studied role of STING in fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. To detect gene expression changes in dSTING-knockout flies microarray assay was used.
Project description:Selenium (Se) is an important trace element for many organisms and is incorporated into selenoproteins as selenocysteine (Sec). In eukaryotes, selenophosphate synthetase SPS2 is essential for Sec biosynthesis. In recent years, genetic disruptions of both Sec biosynthesis genes and selenoprotein genes have been investigated in different animal models, which provide important clues for understanding the Se metabolism and function in these organisms. However, a systematic study on the knockdown of SPS2 has not been performed in vivo. Herein, we conducted microarray experiments to study the transcriptome of fruit flies with knockdown of SPS2 in larval and adult stages. Several hundred differentially expressed genes were identified in each stage. Genes expression profiles of 12 fruit fly samples corresponding to larval and adult stages of SPS2 knockdown and control groups (3 replicates for each group) were analyzed using an Affymetrix Drosophila genome microarray.