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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Measuring Crop Motility and Food Passaging in Drosophila
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Measuring Crop Motility and Food Passaging in Drosophila

Published on: May 9, 2020

Defective gut function in drop-dead mutant Drosophila.

Cassandra R Peller1, Elizabeth M Bacon, Julie A Bucheger

  • 1Dept. of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, PO Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881, USA.

Journal of Insect Physiology
|June 9, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Mutation of the drop-dead (drd) gene in fruit flies causes premature death by disrupting food transfer from the crop to the midgut. This impairs nutrient absorption and affects triglyceride and glycogen stores.

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Area of Science:

  • Genetics and Developmental Biology
  • Insect Physiology
  • Molecular Mechanisms of Disease

Background:

  • The drop-dead (drd) gene mutation in adult Drosophila leads to lethality within two weeks of eclosion.
  • drd mutants exhibit reduced defecation and increased crop content volume, indicating impaired digestive processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the physiological basis of lethality in drd mutant Drosophila.
  • To determine the role of the drd gene in regulating food transfer from the crop to the midgut.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of food distribution and crop emptying rates in drd(lwf) mutant flies.
  • Assessment of triglyceride and glycogen stores in newly eclosed mutant flies.
  • Measurement of spontaneous crop motility in mutant and control flies.

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Functional Analysis of the Larval Feeding Circuit in Drosophila
09:23

Functional Analysis of the Larval Feeding Circuit in Drosophila

Published on: November 19, 2013

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Last Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Measuring Crop Motility and Food Passaging in Drosophila
06:13

Measuring Crop Motility and Food Passaging in Drosophila

Published on: May 9, 2020

Functional Analysis of the Larval Feeding Circuit in Drosophila
09:23

Functional Analysis of the Larval Feeding Circuit in Drosophila

Published on: November 19, 2013

Main Results:

  • drd(lwf) mutants showed significantly reduced transfer of ingested food from crop to midgut.
  • Mutant flies displayed abnormal triglyceride and glycogen stores, correlating with impaired digestion.
  • Spontaneous crop motility was increased in drd(lwf) mutants, suggesting a defect in regulating food entry into the midgut.

Conclusions:

  • Mutation of the drd gene causes a defect that inhibits food entry into the midgut.
  • This defect leads to impaired digestion, nutrient malabsorption, and ultimately, premature lethality in Drosophila.