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Published on: August 21, 2014
Self-DNA Inhibition in Drosophila melanogaster Development: Metabolomic Evidence of the Molecular Determinants
Michele Colombo1, Laura Grauso2, Virginia Lanzotti2
1Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, National Research Council, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
Abstract:
We investigated the effects of dietary delivered self-DNA in the model insect Drosophila melanogaster. Self-DNA administration resulted in low but significant lethality in Drosophila larvae and considerably extended the fly developmental time. This was characterized by the abnormal persistence of the larvae in the L2 and L3 stages, which largely accounted for the average 72 h delay observed in pupariation, as compared to controls. In addition, self-DNA exposure affected adult reproduction by markedly reducing both female fecundity and fertility, further demonstrating its impact on Drosophila developmental processes. The effects on the metabolites of D. melanogaster larvae after exposure to self-DNA were studied by NMR, LC-MS, and molecular networking. The results showed that self-DNA feeding reduces the amounts of all metabolites, particularly amino acids and N-acyl amino acids, which are known to act as lipid signal mediators. An increasing amount of phloroglucinol was found after self-DNA exposure and correlated to developmental delay and egg-laying suppression. Pidolate, a known intermediate in the γ-glutamyl cycle, also increased after exposure to self-DNA and correlated to the block of insect oogenesis.
Insights
Dietary self-DNA harms fruit flies, causing developmental delays and reduced reproduction. Metabolomic analysis revealed altered amino acids and specific compounds linked to these negative effects.
Area of Science:
- * Insect toxicology and developmental biology.
- * Metabolomics and molecular networking.
- * Environmental impact of nucleic acids.
Background:
- * The effects of exogenous nucleic acids on non-target organisms are not fully understood.
- * Model organisms like *Drosophila melanogaster* are crucial for investigating such biological impacts.
- * Understanding these interactions can inform ecological risk assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate the toxicological and developmental effects of dietary self-DNA in *Drosophila melanogaster*.
- * To analyze the metabolic changes in larvae exposed to self-DNA.
- * To identify specific metabolites correlated with observed developmental and reproductive impairments.
Main Methods:
- * Administration of self-DNA to *Drosophila melanogaster* larvae.
- * Monitoring of larval development, pupariation time, and adult reproductive parameters (fecundity and fertility).
- * Metabolomic profiling using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), and molecular networking.
Main Results:
- * Dietary self-DNA induced significant larval lethality and a ~72-hour delay in pupariation, primarily due to prolonged L2/L3 stages.
- * Adult female flies exhibited markedly reduced fecundity and fertility after self-DNA exposure.
- * Metabolomic analysis revealed a decrease in overall metabolites, especially amino acids and N-acyl amino acids, with increased levels of phloroglucinol and pidolate, correlating with developmental delays and reproductive issues.
Conclusions:
- * Dietary self-DNA poses a significant risk to *Drosophila melanogaster*, impacting survival, development, and reproduction.
- * Metabolic disruptions, including altered amino acid profiles and increased phloroglucinol and pidolate, are key mechanisms underlying self-DNA toxicity.
- * These findings highlight the potential for exogenous DNA to disrupt biological processes in insects.
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