Melanogaster Mutants Research Articles

Metabolic activation and detoxification of aliphatic alcohols in Drosophila melanogaster and Ceratitis capitata in relation to their alcohol dehydrogenase activity

Three Drosophila melanogaster mutant strains with normal alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) levels (ADH +) and three strains with no ADH activity (ADH −) are used to evaluate the importance of ADH in the metabolic activation and detoxification of aliphatic alcohols and particularly methanol, ethanol, 1-pentyn-3-ol, and 2-cyclohexen-1-ol. Methanol toxicity is not influenced by ADH based on observations that methanol and deuteromethanol (CD 3OH) are not substrates for ADH and they are of similar toxicity to ADH + and ADH − strains. Ethanol, 1-pentyn-3-ol (and the related 3-penten-2-ol), and 2-cyclohexen-1-ol are oxidized >20-fold faster by homogenates of ADH + than of ADH − flies, in each case requiring NAD and converting the latter three secondary alcohols to the corresponding ketones identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Ethanol oxidation is a detoxification process based on two findings: ADH + flies are ∼10-fold less sensitive than ADH − flies to the lethal effects of ethanol, confirming earlier findings; introduction of deuterium into the methylene position (CH 3CD 2OH and CD 3CD 2OH versus CD 3CH 2OH and CH 3CH 2OH) decreases the rate of ADH oxidation by 3-fold leading to a 1.5-fold higher toxicity of the ethanol, a new observation. 1-Pentyn-3-ol oxidation is an activation reaction since this pentynol is 15-fold more toxic to ADH + than to ADH − flies. Surprisingly, the relatively high toxicity of 2-cyclohexen-1-ol is not dependent on ADH activity, with equal potency on ADH + and ADH − strains, or on 2-cyclohexen-1-one formation. The toxicity of these alcohols in adult Ceratitis capitata is generally similar to that in ADH + D. melanogaster and a 2- to 4-fold sex difference in Ceratitis ADH activity does not confer a significant sex difference in sensitivity to alcohol intoxication.

Nucleotide sequence and structure of the sevenless gene of Drosophila melanogaster.

In the Drosophila melanogaster mutant sevenless, the R7 photoreceptor in each of the repeating units, or ommatidia, of the compound eye fails to form. We have determined the nucleotide sequence and structure of the sevenless transcription unit. Overlapping cDNA clones from an eye imaginal disc library were isolated, and these together with corresponding genomic regions were sequenced. The positions of the major and two minor transcription start sites were mapped. The gene encodes a putative cell-surface receptor, the unmodified form of which is predicted as 288 kD, bearing a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase domain. Several structural features distinguish sevenless from other tyrosine kinase receptors, most notably the large size of its extracellular domain. Moreover, unlike the insulin or epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors, a putative amino-terminal signal sequence does not immediately follow the initiating methionine codon. Rather, a 21-amino-acid hydrophobic sequence is found 56 amino acids after the likely initiating methionine codon, suggesting that this sequence may function as an amino-terminal anchor. If so, the sevenless protein would be expected to have its 2001-amino-acid extracellular domain anchored as a loop at either end in the membrane. Finally, we have generated a number of transformant lines that carry either a 16.3-kb genomic fragment that extends approximately 950 bp upstream of the transcription start sites or constructs in which a subset of the introns present in the genomic sevenless DNA have been removed. The degree of rescue of the sevenless mutant phenotype has been assayed in these lines using morphological and behavioral assays.

Isolation of Drosophila melanogaster mutants with a wavelength-specific alteration in their phototactic response.

A method is described for the isolation ofDrosophila mutants whose positive spontaneous phototactic reaction in repeated choices between UV light (368 nm) and blue light (481 nm) tended less to the UV than that of the wild type. From those 32 strains which have been isolated up till now and which fulfill this criterion, most showed only a relatively slight deviation from normal behavior. Among those exhibiting a marked change in the choice tendency was one allele of the mutantrdgB (receptor degeneration B) and seven alleles of the mutantsevenless (receptor cell 7 missing); four other mutants belong to two complementation groups which have not been identified as yet. The method described should be suitable for detecting further mutants with defects in receptor-cell function. In addition, it should be possible to isolate mutants in which the mechanisms of wavelength-specific processing are altered.

Embryonic and imaginal requirements for wingless, a segment-polarity gene in Drosophila

In Drosophila melanogaster mutant alleles of the segmentation gene wingless fall into two classes: wingless Lethal mutations are embryonic lethals with a segment-polarity phenotype; the wingless 1 mutation is viable when homozygous and produces a homeotic transformation in adults. This paper further describes the embryonic lethal phenotype, and also pole-cell transplants, experiments with a temperature-sensitive mutation, and clonal analysis with a wingless Lethal mutation. It is argued that the wg gene is zygotically required after gastrulation for the normal patterning of each embryonic segment. The gene is still required in the larval stages, and the cell nonautonomy of this function supports the view that the wg gene product may be involved in intercellular signaling during development.

The compensatory response locus deletion increases the number of nucleoli in Drosophila melanogaster polytene cells

The formation of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) not associated with the nucleolar organizer (NO) regions was studied in polytene cells of Drosophila melanogaster mutants, mal12 and bb2rl, heterozygous for deficiencies in the NO. In the mutant X chromosome mal12 a smaller part of the NO is deleted than in bb2rl but it comprises the compensatory response (cr) locus, controlling the compensatory synthesis of rDNA. We found that in the polytene cells of all tissues of mutant X/Xmal12 investigated (larval salivary gland, fat body and midgut; adult fly midgut) the number of nucleoli was increased compared with that in the corresponding cells of X/Xbb2rl and X/X (wild type). Using in situ hybridization we showed that in the salivary gland cells of the X/Xmal12 larvae chromosomal sites containing type I insertion sequences and scattered throughout the genome were more frequent than in the wild type and in X/Xbb2rl mutant cells.

Increased number of nucleoli in the salivary gland cells of Drosophila melanogaster under conditions of rDNA dose compensation

A considerable increase in the number of nucleoli non-associted with the nucleolar organizer (NO) was shown in the salivary gland cells of Drosophila melanogaster mutants, heterozygous for a deficiency of NO. The frequency of formation of additional nucleoli increased with the raising of the chromosome polyteny level. By means of in situ hybridization we showed that in the mutant and the wildtype polytene cells the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of these “unlawful” nucleoli included ribosomal gene repeats (18S+28S) with two types of insertions: ivs-I and ivs-II Such additional nucleoli can be attached to varying sites of the polytene chromosomes containing type I insertion sequences.

Scanning electron microscopic analysis of spontaneous and UV-induced abnormal segment patterns in Chironomus samoensis (Diptera, Chironomidae)

The embryonic body pattern of Chironomus samoensis, as well as other chironomids, can be altered dramatically by irradiating their eggs with ultraviolet light (UV). Anterior UV irradiation leads to the formation of double abdomen embryos whose anterior segments are replaced by posterior segments with reversed polarity. Most double abdomens are symmetrical showing a mirror image duplication of the posterior six or seven segments. However, in some cases the anterior end of the double abdomen is shorter, and comprises fewer segments, than its posterior counterpart. These asymmetries range from moderate to extreme. They involve the juxtaposition, at the plane of polarity reversal, of disparate segments. The same range of symmetrical and asymmetrical double abdomens is also formed spontaneously in an apparently mutant strain of C. samoensis. There are striking similarities between this natural variant and the Drosophila melanogaster mutant bicaudal which are also discussed with respect to models of embryonic pattern formation.

Gap junction distribution in the Drosophila wing disc mutants vg, l (2)gd, l (3)c43 hs1, and l (2)gl 4

The density of gap junctions in four Drosophila melanogaster mutants with abnormal wing disc development has been determined using quantitative electron microscopy and compared with the gap junction density in wild-type wing discs. No appreciable differences relative to wild-type controls were found in the cell death mutant vestigial or in the mildly hyperplastic mutant lethal giant disc which could not be accounted for in terms of altered lateral plasma membrane surface density or as an extension of the gap junction growth which normally occurs during the third larval stage of development in wild-type wing discs. However, both the severely hyperplastic mutant l (3)c43 hs1 and the neoplastic mutant lethal giant larva have significant reductions in the gap junction surface density, the number of gap junctions, and the gap junction areal fraction of the lateral plasma membrane compared with wild-type controls. These differences cannot be attributed to altered lateral plasma membrane surface densities which are not significantly different from wild-type control wing discs. The reduced gap junction density in severely hyperplastic and neoplastic wing discs suggests that alterations in the number or distribution of gap junctions may be as disruptive to normal growth and development as their complete absence.

Detection of virus-specific sequences in Drosophila melanogaster mutants induced by injection of RSV DNA into early embryos.

The injection of purified Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) (Prague strain) into Drosophila melanogaster (Oregon R line) eggs changes the fly phenotype in certain cases, and RSV-specific sequences can be identified in the Drosophila genome (ref. 1 and preceding paper). Here we have used Southern blotting to analyse in greater detail the proviral DNA present in several mutant lines of D. melanogaster produced by microinjection of intact RSV or plasmid DNA containing the viral insert. In certain populations of flies, RSV provirus was found to be incorporated into cellular DNA, and in one mutant family the unintegrated form of plasmid DNA was identified. Generally, the presence of injected genetic material in fly cells correlated with morphological changes in Drosophila.

Failure to Replicate the Results of an Experiment on the Rare Male Effect in Drosophila menlanogaster

Previous articleNext article No AccessNotes and CommentsFailure to Replicate the Results of an Experiment on the Rare Male Effect in Drosophila menlanogasterLinda Partridge, and Andrew GardnerLinda Partridge Search for more articles by this author , and Andrew Gardner Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The American Naturalist Volume 122, Number 3Sep., 1983 Published for The American Society of Naturalists Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/284145 Views: 4Total views on this site Citations: 16Citations are reported from Crossref Copyright 1983 The University of ChicagoPDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:A. J. Pemberton, L. R. Noble, J. D. D. Bishop Frequency dependence in matings with water-borne sperm, Journal of Evolutionary Biology 16, no.22 (Feb 2003): 289–301.https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1420-9101.2003.00509.xG Ribó, J Ocaña, A Prevosti Effect of larval crowding on adult mating behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster, Heredity 63, no.22 (Oct 1989): 195–202.https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1989.92Linda Partridge Frequency-dependent mating preferences in female fruitflies?, Behavior Genetics 19, no.55 (Sep 1989): 725–728.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01066034Eliot B. Spiess Comments on some criticisms of minority mating advantage experiments inDrosophila, Behavior Genetics 19, no.55 (Sep 1989): 729–733.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01066035Eric C. Toolson, Rebecca Kuper‐Simbrón LABORATORY EVOLUTION OF EPICUTICULAR HYDROCARBON COMPOSITION AND CUTICULAR PERMEABILITY IN DROSOPHILA PSEUDOOBSCURA : EFFECTS ON SEXUAL DIMORPHISM AND THERMAL‐ACCLIMATION ABILITY, Evolution 43, no.22 (May 2017): 468–473.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1558-5646.1989.tb04242.x Karen S. Oberhauser Lack of Rare-Male Mating Effect Using bw and st Drosophila melanogaster Mutants, The American Naturalist 131, no.11 (Oct 2015): 143–148.https://doi.org/10.1086/284781Peter Knoppien Rare-male mating advantage: An artifact caused by differential storage conditions?, Behavior Genetics 17, no.44 (Jul 1987): 409–425.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01068139Eliot B. Spiess, Deborah A. Bowbal Minority mating advantage of certain eye color mutants ofDrosophila melanogaster. IV. Female discrimination among three genotypes, Behavior Genetics 17, no.33 (May 1987): 291–306.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065508Michael E.N. Majerus The genetics and evolution of female choice, Trends in Ecology & Evolution 1, no.11 (Jul 1986): 1–7.https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-5347(86)90056-XLeif Søndergaard Mating competition in artificial populations of Drosophila melanogaster polymorphic for ebony : II. A test for minority male mating advantage, Genetical Research 47, no.33 (Apr 2009): 205–208.https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016672300023144 Aykut Kence Spurious Frequency-Dependent Fitness in Drosophila: An Artifact Caused by Marking Procedures, The American Naturalist 127, no.55 (Oct 2015): 716–720.https://doi.org/10.1086/284515Barry Singer A comparison of evolutionary and environmental theories of erotic response part I: Structural features, The Journal of Sex Research 21, no.33 (Jan 2010): 229–257.https://doi.org/10.1080/00224498509551265PETER KNOPPIEN RARE MALE MATING ADVANTAGE: A REVIEW, Biological Reviews 60, no.11 (Feb 1985): 81–117.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.1985.tb00418.xP. O'DONALD, M. E. N. MAJERUS Polymorphism of melanic ladybirds maintained by frequency-dependent sexual selection, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 23, no.2-32-3 (Jan 2008): 101–111.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1984.tb00131.xL. PARTRIDGE, W. G. HILL Mechanisms for frequency-dependent mating success, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 23, no.2-32-3 (Jan 2008): 113–132.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1984.tb00132.xARTHUR W. EWING FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF DROSOPHILA COURTSHIP, Biological Reviews 58, no.22 (May 1983): 275–292.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.1983.tb00390.x

Site of Action of a Temperature-Sensitive Maternal Effect Mutation in Drosophila Melanogaster

Previous studies have shown that the D. melanogaster mutant 1(1)1074" is sensitive to temperature changes towards the end of oogenesis, during the sixth to twelfth hour of embryogenesis and again during larval and early pupal development. The 1(1) 1074" gene product resulting from activity of the nuclear gene appears to be important for pupation.

Proportional polyploidization of 5S RNA genes in the ovary of Drosophila melanogaster mutants containing three 5S RNA gene loci

The 5S RNA gene content of polyploid cells of the ovary of Drosophila melanogaster has been compared in animals with two or three gene clusters. The amount of 5S RNA genes is exactly proportional to the number of gene clusters as determined by DNA-RNA filter hybridization. In contrast, the number of rDNA genes in endomitotic cells remains constant regardless of different numbers of nucleolus organizer regions (Spear, 1974).

A method for studying tissue specificity of maternally affected Drosophila melanogaster mutants: Mosaic analysis of cinnamon

Mosaic analysis is introduced to study tissue specificity of the maternal effect which characterizes the wild-type allele of cinnamon (= cin). The methodology presented is applicable to studies of other maternal effect mutations, as well as to female or male sterility mutations. One hundred and forty-three pal-induced fertile cin-mosaic females were obtained, and the degree to which they were capable of maternally affecting their homozygous cin daughters was correlated to their cuticular and germinal genetic constitution. From this analysis the following conclusions are drawn: (1) The presence of a wild-type ( cin +) allele in maternal germ cells constitutes a sufficient condition for the full expression of the cin + characteristic maternal effect: All cin offspring derived from such cells have normal viability and eye color. (2) This effect is confined to the descendants of a particular germ cell and does not extend to the descendants of other non-cin + germ cells in the same or in a neighboring ovary. (3) A wild-type allele in a germ cell constitutes a necessary condition for the eye color maternal effect. (4) When a maternal germ line is wholly mutant, nonmutant constitution of an additional focus may result in rescue of more than half of the homozygous cin offspring (all with mutant eye color). Mosaic analysis suggests that this somatic viability focus originates from the posterior region of the blastoderm. These conclusions were tested and confirmed by transplanting heterozygous cin ovaries, wild-type Malphigian tubes, and wild-type fat body into homozygous cin hosts. In addition, transplantations of homozygous cin ovaries into wild-type hosts suggest that the posterior maternal viability focus corresponds to the mesodermal components of the ovaries.

β-alanine tanning of Drosophila cuticles and chitin

The cuticular lamellae of the Drosophila melanogaster mutants, “ebony” (which fails to transport β-alanine into the cuticle during development) and “black” (which shows inhibited β-alanine synthesis) are wider and more diffuse than normal, and the endocuticular microfibrils lack distinctness. Injection of β-alanine into “black” induces normal compact lamellation and cuticular tanning. β-alanine readily forms tan colours when reacting with pure chitin or its saccharide monomer, N- acetyl-glucosamine (or glucose). Other dipolar omega amino acids do likewise. β-alanine is bound to pure chitin more rapidly than is l-alanine. Pre-treatment of chitin with β-alanine depresses subsequent binding of DOPA. Complexing of β-alanine with mucopolysaccharides or glycopolysaccharides may be responsible for inhibition of catabolism of glucose. Such inhibition is observed in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in vitro.

BEHAVIORAL MUTANTS OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER. I. ISOLATION AND MAPPING OF MUTATIONS WHICH DECREASE FLIGHT ABILITY

A flight test box was developed and used in the isolation and initial characterization of Drosophila melanogaster mutants defective in flight behavior. Forty-eight mutants were isolated from F(1) progeny of ethyl methanesulfonate-treated males. Genetic mapping and complementation tests show that the mutations reside at thirty-four different sites on the X chromosome. Different mutants show different degrees of flight ability compared to controls. Forty-six mutations are recessive, while two appear to be semi-dominant with respect to flight behavior. In addition to flight defects, five mutants have visible defects, five behave as temperature-sensitive lethals and three exhibit abnormal electro-retinograms. Alleles of each of the previously known behavioral mutations, Hyperkinetic, ether à go-go and Shaker were found. Preliminary studies also suggest that the flight behavioral phenotype of mutations at seven sites is affected by the temperature at which the flies develop.

The photosensitivity of a mutant circadian clock

Konopka and Benzer (1971) produced a mutantDrosophila in which the circadian clock period is shortened by 20% and in which the maximum phase shift obtained from a saturating exposure of light is much increased. We examined the phase responses to lower energy exposures and found that in almost every aspect examined they are remarkably similar to those found inD. pseudoobscura, the only other fly examined in detail. In particular, theD. melanogaster mutant, unlike the wildtype, can be given an exposure of light of a critical energy at a critical phase which results in nearly complete loss of rhythmicity.

T-maze phototaxis ofDrosophila melanogaster and several mutants in the visual systems

T-maze phototaxis ofDrosophila melanogaster and several of its mutants was investigated as function of the light illuminating the mazes. For visible light the response curves of thewildtype are quite complex and nonmonotonic functions of the light intensity. The data are interpreted as a result of an interaction between visual subsystems: the system which receives inputs from receptor cells R1-R6 is inhibited by the system of receptor cells R7 and R8, probably by R8 alone.

Comparative characteristics of the puffing pattern and the endocrine system in an oregon laboratory stock and in l(2)gl Drosophila melanogaster mutants differing in the time of their death

This study shows that homozygotes for different alleles of the lethal mutant, l(2)gl, differing in the time of death also vary in the state of their endocrine system and the puffing patterns of their salivary gland chromosomes. Homozygotes which die at the larval stage have underdeveloped prothoracic glands and normal corpora allata (CA); in those dying at the prepupal stage both the prothoracic glands and the CA are equally underdeveloped. — All the early third instar larval puffs (96–110 h., PS 1–2) develop in homozygotes; however, the reduction of some early larval puffs, normally occurring before pupariation or at puparium formation, is delayed. Some puffs are more developed than normal. — The differences in puffing patterns chiefly concerned puffs which normally appear 4–5 h before puparium formation and at puparium formation. In homozygotes lethal as larvae some of the puffs normally active at this time did not develop. However, along with some of the late larval puffs, there appeared many puffs characteristic of prepupae. — In homozygotes lethal as prepupae only the time and sequence of puff appearance was altered. Many late larval puffs were active in prepupae rather than in larvae, whereas some of the puffs, normally appearing in prepupae, were active in the larval stage. Accordingly, we propose to distinguish two groups of puff loci. 1) Hormone dependent puffs: These do not develop in larval lethals and are active only after puparium formation in pupariated lethals. 2) Autonomous puffs: Their appearance depends more on the time of development, than on hormonal background. It is suggested that the induction of hormone dependent puffs and of puparium formation is possible at low ecdysone levels, provided that the juvenile hormone level is also low.

Comparative study of the function of polytene chromosomes in laboratory stocks of Drosophila melanogaster and the l(3)tl mutant (lethal tumorous larvae). II. Changes of banding pattern and transcriptional activity in the salivary chromosome of l(3)tl.

The salivary chromosomes of the l(3)tl mutant of D. melanogaster are considerably thicker and shorter than those of normal larvae. In most nuclei, chromosome shortening is associated with morphological changes of two types. a) The bands lose their distinctive pattern and become loose. The chromosome appears as a granular mass. In extreme cases pompon-like chromosomes arise. Most frequently male X-chromosomes undergo such changes and begin to shorten as early as in the middle of third larval instar. "Pompon" transformation is not associated with a change in the relative intensity of RNA synthesis: the ratio of silver grain number over the male X-chromosome to that over regions 61A-63F is the same in pompon-like l(3)tl chromosomes and in the male and female X-chromosomes of the normal lines. b) Shortened chromosomes occassionally retain distinct band organization and, in these cases, chromosome shortening is observed to be due to the condensation of the chromatin of many puffs and interbands resulting in the fusion of a large number of bands into "new" chromatin blocks. In regions of fused bands, transcriptional activity is decreased as compared with regions where this union does not occur. The chromosomes of l(3)tl larvae lack ecdysone-stimulated puffs and other prominent puffs. In 144-192 hour larvae, puffs can be induced by ecdysone and until 384 hours by temperature shock. The capacity of puff induction decreases with larval age.

The ribosomes of Drosophila. IV. Electrophoretic identify among ribosomal subunit proteins from wild type and mutant D. melanogaster and D. simulans.

One- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was employed to characterize and compare ribosomal subunit proteins from wild-type D. melanogaster and several mutants, including suppressor-of-forked and four X-linked cold sensitive lethals. The sibling species D. simulans was also studied. We found the electropherogram patterns indistinguishable in all cases.