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A Burrowing/Tunneling Assay for Detection of Hypoxia in Drosophila melanogaster Larvae
Published on: March 27, 2018
Experimental selection for Drosophila survival in extremely high O2 environments
Huiwen W Zhao1, Dan Zhou, Victor Nizet
1Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America.
Plos One
|July 30, 2010
Summary
Scientists developed a fruit fly strain tolerant to high oxygen levels, identifying specific genes crucial for survival in hyperoxic environments. This research sheds light on the molecular basis of oxidant tolerance.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Physiology
Background:
- Oxidative stress poses risks to mammals, but mechanisms of oxidant susceptibility and tolerance are not fully understood.
- Understanding hyperoxia tolerance is crucial for various biological and medical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To generate and characterize a Drosophila melanogaster strain with enhanced tolerance to high oxygen (hyperoxia).
- To identify genes and molecular mechanisms underlying hyperoxia tolerance through a selection experiment and gene expression analysis.
Main Methods:
- Long-term laboratory selection of Drosophila melanogaster over multiple generations in high O(2) conditions (90% O(2)).
- Phenotypic analysis comparing hyperoxia-selected flies with naïve flies.
- Gene expression profiling (microarrays) to identify differentially expressed genes.
- Mutant screen strategy to validate the role of candidate genes in hyperoxia survival.
Main Results:
- A Drosophila melanogaster strain exhibiting tolerance to severe hyperoxia was successfully generated.
- Hyperoxia-selected flies showed increased body size and weight, with heritable tolerance.
- Gene expression profiling revealed significant alterations in 227 genes, with two-thirds down-regulated.
- Down-regulation of Tropomyosin 1, Glycerol 3 phosphate dehydrogenase, CG33129, and UGP, and up-regulation of Diptericin and Attacin conferred hyperoxia tolerance.
Conclusions:
- Several genes, including Tropomyosin 1, Glycerol 3 phosphate dehydrogenase, CG33129, UGP, Diptericin, and Attacin, play a significant role in hyperoxia survival.
- The study provides a molecular basis for understanding the mechanisms of hyperoxia tolerance.
- This research offers insights into the genetic architecture of adaptation to oxidative stress.
