Investigations on radiosensitive and radioresistant populations of Drosophila melanogaster: XII. The resistance factor rar-3: stage specificity

In earlier studies the recessive genetic factor rar-3 (3-49.8) of Drosophila melanogaster had been found to reduce the sensitivity of immature oocytes to the mutagenic action of X-rays. The present work was devoted to an extension of these studies to other germ-cell stages in both male and female and also somatic cells. The results show that, in the female, the effects of rar-3 are manifest in all germ-cell stages including gonia and nurse cells but not in mature oocytes. In the male germ-cell stages, rar-3 was without any measurable effect; maternal-effect studies were likewise negative. Somatic tissues were also unaffected. Futhermore, rar-3 was apparently not active in larval oogania. It is therefore concluded that the activity of rar-3 is switched on in oogonia during puparium formation or metamorphis and persists until before the formation of the mature oocyte.     

Investigations on radiosensitive and radioresistant populations of Drosophila melanogaster: X. The resistance factor rar 3: genetics

In earlier work, immature oocytes of the irradiated population RÖI₄ of Drosophila melanpgaster were found to be radioresistant relative to those of the basic population RÖI and to those of the control population Berlin wild (+K). The resistance of RÖI₄ relative to RÖI was previously attributed to a hypothetical “factor” rar-3. In the present paper, evidence is presented to show that rar-3 is a single, recessive genetic factor, located on chromosome 3 at a map position of about 49.8. The action of rar-3 is apparently independent of that of rar-1 and rar-2, the factors already present in RÖI.     

Investigations on radiosensitive and radioresistant populations of Drosophila melanogaster XVI. Adaptation to the mutagenic effects of X-rays in several experimental populations with irradiation histories

Selection responses of the laboratory stock Berlin wild (+60, +K) of Drosophila melanogaster to the mutagenic effects of high, accumulated exposures of X-rays were studied in several sub-populations with long irradiation histories. Interest was focussed on adaptive adjustments of mutation rates. In samples from the populations, radiosensitives of immature oocytes were tested, by using dominant lethals (A), X-chromosome losses (B) and sex-linked recessive lethals (C) as end-points of genetic radiation damage.

Populations RÖ II and RÖ V are similar to the previously studied population RÖ I and were exposed to 2100 R/generation, delivered to oocyte stages 6–14, mature sperm, and spermatids. RÖ II (first tests after 160 generations) is radioresistant relative to +60 (control). The resistance was characterized by dose-reduction factors (DRFs) of 1.72 (with respect to end-points A,B) and 1.53 (C), and these were similar to those previously obtained for RÖ I. The resistance of RÖ II was inherited semidominantly as was that of RÖ I, and the radiosensitivity of the hybrids RÖ I / RÖ II was similar to that of RÖ I and RÖ II with respect to end-points A and B. RÖ V did not become resistant within 25 generations of irradiation history (A).

Populations RÖ III (6000 R/generation) and RÖ IV (7000 R/generation) have histories of irradiations given to oogonia and spermatogonia. Radiosensitivities of immature oocytes of RÖ III did not differ from those of +K after 55 generations, but after 105 and 135 generations of irradiation history, DRFs of 1.2 (A) and 1.44 (B) were observed. RÖ IV was characterized in generations 55–135 by DRFs of 1.31 (A) and 1.72 (B).

Selection for relative radioresistance of immature oocytes was found (1) to be reproducible (RÖ II–RÖ V) (2) not to require genetic pre-adaptation (RÖ V), and (3) to be, in part, also achieved by ‘indirect’ selection (RÖ III, RÖ IV). It is concluded that mutation rates in populations are selectively adjusted to evolutionary requirements.     

Thermal plasticity in Drosophila melanogaster : A comparison of geographic populations

Background  

Populations of Drosophila melanogaster show differences in many morphometrical traits according to their geographic origin. Despite the widespread occurrence of these differences in more than one Drosophila species, the actual selective mechanisms controlling the genetic basis of such variation are not fully understood. Thermal selection is considered to be the most likely cause explaining these differences.     

The effect of caffeine on repair systems in oocytes of Drosophila melanogaster III. Genetic analysis of factors controlling maternal repair in a repair-deficient strain of Drosophila melanogaster

Geentic analysis was performed to locate the factors involved in the defective repair mechanism in the occytes of Ubx e⁴/Payne ca females. The results demonstrate that at least three third-chromosome factors may be involved in the control of maternal repair, the two most effective ones being located on the right arm of the third chromosome, one near the Ubx locus and the other neat the ca locus.     

Investigations on radiosensitive and radioresistant populations of Drosophila melanogaster. VIII. The system of relative radioresistance in immature oocytes of the irradiated population ROI4

Prophase I oocytes of the irradiated population ROI4 of Drosophila melanogaster are radioresistant relative to those of a control population (+K). The system of relative radioresistance is apparently dose-modifying and can be described by Dose-Reduction Factors (DRFs). At least 3 constituent components of the system can be distinguished, as follows. The genetic factor rar-1 contributes to the system with respect to the induction of dominant (DRF = 1.31) and sex-linked recessive lethals (DRF = 1.31) in a way that is inhibited by caffeine. The factor rar-2, independently reduces both types of lethal to the same amount as does rar-1, but also affects the production of X-chromosome loss (DFR = 1.72). The results of several different approaches allow, as a working hypothesis, the interpretation that rar-2 reduces the association of heterologous, chiasmatic chromosomes in the chromocentre in time and/or space and thus minimizes the preconditions for the production of certain types of interchange and of non-disjunction. A third factor, rar-3, is postulated to contribute, independently from the others, to the system of relative radioresistance with respect to dominant lethals (DRF = 1.58), interchanges and non-disjunction (DRFs = 1.58), and sex-linked recessive lethals (DRF = 1.87).     

Assessing population and environmental effects on thermal resistance in Drosophila melanogaster using ecologically relevant assays

To make laboratory studies of thermal resistance in ectotherms more ecologically relevant, temperature changes that reflect conditions experienced by individuals in nature should be used. Here we describe an assay that is useful for quantifying multiple measures of thermal resistance of individual adult flies. We use this approach to assess upper and lower thermal limits and functional thermal scope for Drosophila melanogaster and also show that the method can be used to (1) detect a previously described latitudinal cline for cold tolerance in D. melanogaster populations collected along the east coast of Australia, (2) demonstrate that acclimation at variable temperatures during development increases tolerance to both low and high thermal stresses and therefore increases thermal scope compared to acclimation at a constant temperature, (3) show that temperate populations adapted to variable thermal environments have wider thermal limits compared to those from the less variable tropics, at least when flies were reared under constant temperature conditions and (4) demonstrate that different measures of cold resistance are often not strongly correlated. Based on our findings, we suggest that the method could be routinely used in evaluating thermal responses potentially linked to ecological processes and evolutionary adaptation.     

Tissue-specific position effects on alcohol dehydrogenase expression in Drosophila melanogaster

Summary Erwinia chrysanthemi, a phytopathogenic enterobacterium, secretes three proteases (PrtA, PrtB and PrtC) into the extracellular medium. The gene encoding the 50 kDa protease, prtA, was subcloned from a recombinant cosmid carrying a fragment of the E. chrysanthemi B374 chromosome. prtA was shown to be located immediately 3 to the structural genes for the other two extracellular proteases. The amino acid sequence of PrtA, as predicted from the prtA nucleotide sequence, showed a high level of homology with a family of metalloproteases that are all secreted via a signal peptide-independent pathway, including PrtB and PrtC of E. chrysanthemi B374, PrtC of E. chrysanthemi EC16, PrtSM of Serratia marcescens and AprA of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PrtA secretion requires the E. chrysanthemi protease secretion factors PrtD, PrtE and PrtF. The secretion signal of PrtA is near to the carboxy-terminal end of the protein, as was previously shown to be the case for PrtB and PrtSM and for Escherichia coli -hemolysin. The C-termini of these four proteins do not show extensive primary sequence homology, but PrtA, PrtB and PrtSM each have a potential amphipathic -helix located close to the C-terminus.     

The genetics of dopa decarboxylase in Drosophila melanogaster

Summary Data on 46 mutations in the structural gene, Ddc. for dopa decarboxylase and 33 mutations in the methyl dopa hypersensitive gene, 1(2)amd, in Drosophila melanogaster are presented including information on their isolation, their effects on DDC activity, and their sensitivity to dietary methyl dopa. Intragenic complementation of both loci is documented, the effects of heteroallelic complementing heterozygosity on DDC activity, in vitro thermolability of DDC, and on temperature sensitive viability are presented. Data are marshalled to support rejection of the hypothesis that Ddc mutations and 1(2)amd, mutations are lesions in a single gene.     

Genetic characterization of the mei-41 locus in Drosophila melanogaster

Summary The mutagen-sensitive mutant mus(1)104 ^D1 of Drosophila melanogaster maps to a position on the X chromosome very close to the meiotic mutant mei-41 ^D5 . Both mutants have been characterized as mutagen-sensitive and defective in post-replication repair. In the present report we show by complementation studies that mus(1)104 and mus(1)103 are allelic with mei-41. In addition, two reported alleles of mus(1)104 lie between the mei-41 alleles A10 and D5. The size of the mei-41 locus is estimated to be about 0.1 centimorgans (cM). Because several alleles of mei-41 have been shown to reduce recombination and increase meiotic chromosome loss and nondisjunction, mus(1)104 ^D1 females were examined for defects in meiosis. Although there was no evidence for reduced recombination on the second chromosome in homozygous mus(1)104 ^D1 females, heterozygous mus(1)104 ^D1 /mei-41 ^>D5 and mus(1)104 ^D1 /deficiency females showed reduced levels of recombination. However, there was no evidence of an increase in nondijunction in these females.We dedicate this article to the memory of Larry Sandler, who passed away suddenly on February 7, 1987     

Investigations on radiosensitive and radioresistant populations of Drosophila melanogaster. IV. The genetics of the relative radioresistance in stage-7 oocytes of the irradiated population RO I

The genetic system that controls the relative radioresistance in an irradiated laboratory population of Drosophila melanogaster (RÖ I) was studied. Comparisons were made between an unirradiated control population (+60, +K), the population RÖ I (after 227–333 generations of irradiation at 2100 R per generation), the sub-population RÖ I₀ (derived from RÖ I after 260 generations of irradiation and kept without irradiation for up to 74 generations), the F₁ hybrids +60/RÖ I, various homo- and heterozygous carriers of the 3 major chromosomes of RÖ I and +60, respectively, in combination with suitable balancers, and several chromosome substitution stocks of +K and RÖ I. The criteria used to assess the magnitude of radiosensitivity were dominant lethals, X-chromosome loss, and sex-linked recessive lethals induced in stage-7 oocytes at various exposure levels of X-irradiation.The data show that the radioresistance in RÖ I is controlled by a stable and homozygous genetic system. The system is semidominant. With respect to the induction of dominant lethals and sex-linked recessive lethals, the relative resistance is mainly contributed by chromosomes I and II. The effects of the two chromosomes are additive, each contributing about half the relative resistance. Resistance to the X-ray induction of X-chromosome loss is solely contributed by chromosome II.The findings suggest that at least 2 different and independent mechanisms are involved in determining the resistance of the RÖ I population.     

Genetic and molecular variation in the RpII215 region of Drosophila melanogaster

Summary The RpII215 region of the X chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster was investigated to identify genetic functions and correlate these with the known molecular organization of the region. Five genetic loci were identified in a subregion that is reported to transcribe nine or more messages. One locus is nod, which causes meiotic abnormalities, and three other loci are recessive lethal mutations whose developmental lesions are unknown. The fifth and most mutable of the loci is RpII215, which encodes the 215,000 dalton subunit of RNA polymerase II. Mutant effects of RpII215 alleles include: temperature-dependent (heat and cold) survival, altered sensitivity to -amanitin, male sterility, maternal effects and epistatic enhancement of mutant effects of other loci.     

Paucimannose N-glycans in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster

There is a rich diversity of paucimannose N-glycans in worms and flies, and these may play a role in the survival of these organisms. Although paucimannose N-glycans are not expressed in vertebrates, complex N-glycans may take over some of the functions of paucimannose N-glycans. Identification of the target proteins of β-1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (GnTI) in worms and flies and elucidation of their functions may thus lead to a better understanding of the role of GnTI-dependent glycoproteins in the survival/longevity of both invertebrates and vertebrates.     

Role of FOXO transcription factor in radiation adaptive response and hormesis in Drosophila melanogaster

Earlier, we put forward a hypothesis on the role of the FOXO-dependent mechanism of stressresponse gene activation in radiation adaptive response and hormesis at the level of an entire organism [1]. To confirm this assumption, we analyzed the influence of γ-irradiation on the duration of larval development and imago lifespan in Drosophila strains with different FOXO function activity. We revealed that hormesis and adaptive response, manifested in the increased duration of larval development and lifespan after low-dose irradiation, were absent in homozygous strains for the FOXO hypomorphic allele in contrast to wild-type Canton-S strain and FOXO heterozygotes.     

The vestigial locus of Drosophila melanogaster is involved in resistance to inhibitors of dTMP synthesis

The vestigal (vg) gene encodes a nuclear protein which plays a major role in the formation of the wing of Drosophila. Resistance or sensitivity to aminopterin, an inhibitor of the dihydrofolate reductase enzyme in D. melanogaster, seems to be associated with a specific alteration in vg gene function. Wild-type and vg mutant strains selected for growth on increasing concentrations of aminopterin display changes in physiological and biochemical parameters such as viability on normal and aminopterin-containing media, duration of development, wing phenotype, dihydrofolate reductase activity, and cross-resistance to fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdR) and to methotrexate. Our results indicate that the mechanisms of resistance differ in the wild-type and mutant strains. The vg ^83b27 mutant, in which the major part of intron 2 of the vg gene is deleted, is associated with a high rate of resistance to FUdR, an inhibitor of thymidylate synthetase. Moreover, vg ^83b27/vg ^BGheterozygotes, which are wild type when grown on normal medium, display a strong vg phenotype when grown on aminopterin. Our results indicate a role for the vestigial locus in mediating resistance to inhibitors of dTMP synthesis.     

The action of the Notch locus in Drosophila melanogaster

Summary It is shown that the Notch⁸ deficiency in Drosophila melanogaster affects a number of enzyme activities localized in the mitochondria, such as NADH oxidase (activity of the complete respiratory chain), NADH dehydrogenase (the first step in the respiratory chain before transfer to ubiquinone), Succinate dehydrogenase and -Glycerophosphate dehydrogenase. The experiments reported here do not exclude the possibility of involvement of other genes in the deficiency. The effect of duplications of the Notch locus on NADH oxidase and NADH dehydrogenase suggest that this locus determines the enzyme activities.The dosage effects of the Notch locus on activity suggest that this locus contains the structural genes for these enzymes.     

Investigations on radiosensitive and radioresistant populations of Drosophila melanogaster. II. Restriction of the decrease in radiosensitivity of the irradiated population RO I to stage-7 oocytes

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An irradiated (RÖ I) and a contemporaneous control (+60) population (both of which originally were derived from the Berlin wild stock of Drosophila melanogaster) were tested for possible differences in radiosensitivity. Prior to the commencement of the present studies, the irradiated population had been exposed to 2100 R of X-rays each generation for over 220 generations in an experimental design which involved the sampling of oocytestages 6–14, mature spermatozoa and spermatids in each generation.     

研究: 甲醛对果蝇寿命及其在应激条件下耐受性的影响

虽然甲醛对人及动物多种器官的毒性作用已经有了大量研究,但不同浓度甲醛影响动物寿命的研究还极其少见.本文用黑腹果蝇作为模式生物,在食物中添加不同浓度的甲醛,观察果蝇寿命及其在应激条件下耐受性的变化.实验结果显示,雌性果蝇的寿命表现出对甲醛浓度的依赖,0.037%甲醛可以极显著地延长雌性果蝇的寿命,较高浓度甲醛(≥0.185%)可以极显著地缩短雌性果蝇与雄性果蝇的寿命.0.037%甲醛还可以极显著地增强雌性和雄性果蝇对饥饿以及高温的耐受性,但减弱其对活性氧的耐受性.这些结果有助于从新的途径研究果蝇寿命及其在应激条件下耐受性的分子机制.