Drosophila melanogaster P transposable elements: mechanisms of transposition and regulation

The molecular mechanisms that control P element transposition and determine its tissue specificity remain incompletely understood, although much information has been compiled about this element in the last decade. This review summarizes the currently available information about P element transposition, P-M hybrid dysgenesis and P cytotype features, P element-encoded repressors, and regulation of transposition.

Spiroplasma in Drosophila melanogaster Populations: Prevalence, Male-Killing, Molecular Identification, and No Association with Wolbachia

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The effect of the dibenzylbutyrolactolic lignan (-)-cubebin on doxorubicin mutagenicity and recombinogenicity in wing somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efeito de substâncias químicas de uso laboratorial sobre Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera - Drosophilidade) do ponto de vista bioquímico e fenotípico

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Componentes do valor adaptativo e investigação do polimorfismo genético do gene Cyp6g1 (exons 1 e 2) em linhagens resistentes e suscetíveis de Drosophila melanogaster e de Drosophila simulans

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeito da Hidroxiuréia, uma substância de uso médico, sobre parâmetros biológicos de Drosophila melanogaster

Pós-graduação em Genética - IBILCE

Proposição dos modelos de expansão genômica dos elementos de transposição 412 e Bari no genoma de espécies do grupo melanogaster e em populações naturais de Drosophila melanogaster e de D. simulans

Pós-graduação em Genética - IBILCE

Avaliação dos efeitos do brometo de etídio em Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera-Drosophilidae)

Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal - IBILCE

Impact of the medicine Hydroxyurea on reproduction and development, using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of sublethal doses of the insecticide imidacloprid on adaptive traits of Drosophila melanogaster: Response to treatment over and after 15 consecutive generations

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Variabilidade do padrão de esterases e atividade da glutationa S-transferase em linhagens geográficas de Drosophila melanogaster e D. simulans resistentes e suscetíveis ao inseticida DDT

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Drosophila melanogaster lipins are tissue-regulated and developmentally regulated and present specific subcellular distributions

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Selection for Increased Starvation Resistance Using Drosophila melanogaster: Investigating Physiological and Life History Trait Responses to Starvation and Dietary Supplementation in the Context of an Obese Phenotype

Artificial selection for starvation resistance provided insight into the relationships between evolved physiological and life history trait responses following exposure to biologically induced stress. Investigations of alterations to body composition, metabolic rate, movement, and life history traits including development time, female egg production, and longevity in response to brief periods of starvation were conducted on genetically based starvation-resistant and control lines of Drosophila melanogaster. Analysis of the starvation-resistant lines indicated increased energy storage with increased triglyceride deposition and conversion of carbohydrates to lipid, as identified by respiratory quotient values. Correlations between reductions in metabolic rates and movement in the starvation-resistant lines, suggested the presence of an evolved physiological response resulting in energy conservation. Investigations of life history traits in the starvation-resistant lines indicated no significant differences in development time or reproduction between the selected and control lines. Measurements of longevity, however, indicated a significant reduction in starvation-resistant D. melanogaster lifespan. These results suggested that elevated lipid concentrations, similar to that observed with obesity, were correlated with premature mortality. Exposure of the starvation-resistant and control lines to diets supplemented with glucose, palmitic acid, and a 2:1 mixture of casein to albumin were used to investigate alterations in body composition, movement, and life history traits. Results obtained from this study indicated that increased sugar in the diet led to increased carbohydrate, glycogen, total sugar, trehalose, and triglyceride concentrations, while increased fat and protein in the diet resulted in increased soluble protein, carbohydrate, glycogen, total sugar, and trehalose concentrations. Examination of life history trait responses indicated reduced fecundity in females exposed to increased glucose concentrations. Increased supplementations of palmitic acid was consistently correlated with an overall reduction in lifespan in both the starvation-resistant and control Drosophila lines, while measurements of movement indicated increased female activity levels in flies exposed to diets supplemented with fat and protein. Analyses of the physiological and life history trait responses to starvation and dietary supplementation on Drosophila melanogaster used in the present study has implications for investigating the mechanisms underlying the development and persistence of human obesity and associated metabolic disorders.