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Updated: May 8, 2026

In Vivo Forward Genetic Screen to Identify Novel Neuroprotective Genes in Drosophila melanogaster
Published on: July 11, 2019
Loss of function in Drosophila transcription factor Dif delays brain development in larvae resulting in aging adult
Ting Tang1, Jin Li1, Bangwen Zhang1
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China.
Abstract:
Drosophila NF-κB transcription factor Dif has been well known for its function in innate immunity, and recent study also reveals its role in neuronal cells. However, the underlying mechanisms of Dif in the brain remain elusive. In this study, we aim to investigate the function of Dif in Drosophila brain development and how Dif regulates structure and plasticity of the brain to affect aging and behaviors. Based on the analysis of differentially expressed genes, we identified key genes associated with cell division, development and aging in the brain of Dif1 loss of function mutant. In Dif1 larvae, we found that the metamorphosis and brain development were delayed, and cell division was decreased. In Dif1 adults, the number of neuron cells was reduced in the brain, the lifespan and locomotor activity were decreased, protein markers associated with aging-related neurodegenerative diseases in the brain were altered in abundance or activity. Our results indicated that Dif plays a crucial role in brain plasticity and neurogenesis, dysfunction of Dif delays larval brain development and impacts proliferation of neuronal cells, resulting in aging adult brain by regulating expression of key genes in multiple signaling pathways involved in cell division, neurogenesis and aging.
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