Systematic Screening of Drosophila Deficiency Mutations for Embryonic Phenotypes and Orphan Receptor Ligands

This paper defines a collection of Drosophila deletion mutations (deficiencies) that can be systematically screened for embryonic phenotypes, orphan receptor ligands, and genes affecting protein localization. It reports the results of deficiency screens we have conducted that have revealed new axon guidance phenotypes in the central nervous system and neuromuscular system and permitted a quantitative assessment of the number of potential genes involved in regulating guidance of specific motor axon branches. Deficiency “kits” that cover the genome with a minimum number of lines have been established to facilitate gene mapping. These kits cannot be systematically analyzed for phenotypes, however, since embryos homozygous for many deficiencies in these kits fail to develop due to the loss of key gene products encoded within the deficiency. To create new kits that can be screened for phenotype, we have examined the development of the nervous system in embryos homozygous for more than 700 distinct deficiency mutations. A kit of ∼400 deficiency lines for which homozygotes have a recognizable nervous system and intact body walls encompasses >80% of the genome. Here we show examples of screens of this kit for orphan receptor ligands and neuronal antigen expression. It can also be used to find genes involved in expression, patterning, and subcellular localization of any protein that can be visualized by antibody staining. A subset kit of 233 deficiency lines, for which homozygotes develop relatively normally to late stage 16, covers ∼50% of the genome. We have screened it for axon guidance phenotypes, and we present examples of new phenotypes we have identified. The subset kit can be used to screen for phenotypes affecting all embryonic organs. In the future, these deficiency kits will allow Drosophila researchers to rapidly and efficiently execute genome-wide anatomical screens that require examination of individual embryos at high magnification.     

Specific Antisera Against the Catecholamines: L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine, Dopamine, Noradrenaline, and Octopamine Tested by an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Antisera were raised against L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA), and octopamine (OA). This was achieved by coupling each molecule to bovine serum albumin or human serum albumin using glutaraldehyde. The conjugated aromatic amines were kept in a reducing medium containing sodium metabisulfite. Antiserum specificity was tested using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method for catecholamines. Competition experiments were done between the immunogen coated on the well plates and each catecholamine, either in the free state or in conjugated form, previously incubated with an antiserum. In each case, the nonconjugated compound was poorly recognized. The nonreduced conjugates of L-DOPA and DA were well recognized, whereas those of NA and OA were poorly immunoreactive. The cross-reactivity ratios established in the competition experiments allowed the specificity of the immune response to be defined. In each case, it was found to be high. The results suggest that the antibodies of L-DOPA and DA antisera recognize preferentially the catechol moiety, whereas for the anti-NA and anti-OA antibodies, the lateral chain is important.     

Cloning and sequencing of a rat CuZn superoxide dismutase cDNA. Correlation between CuZn superoxide dismutase mRNA level and enzyme activity in rat and mouse tissues

The molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone (pR SOD) for rat CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) is reported. Nucleotide sequence homology with human superoxide dismutase is 86% for the coding region and 71% for the 3' untranslated region. The deduced amino acid sequence is given and the homologies with the sequences reported for other species are presented. Northern blot analysis of total RNA from various rat and mouse tissues and from two mouse cell lines show that pR SOD hybridizes with one mRNA species of about 0.7 kb. The amount of CuZnSOD mRNA in each tissue, measured by densitometry of the Northern blot autoradiograms, correlates with the enzymatic activity based on protein content. These results indicate that the control of CuZnSOD activity in mammalian tissues is largely dependent on the regulation of CuZnSOD mRNA levels. In human liver, fibroblasts and FG2 hepatoma cells, two CuZnSOD mRNAs (0.7 kb and 0.9 kb) are observed. The level of CuZnSOD mRNA in FG2 is 25% that of the liver and four times more abundant than in fibroblasts.