Project description:Here, we present the results of an integrative study that leverages naturally segregating variation and a recent, adaptive divergence event affecting seasonal timing to identify developmental mechanisms underlying diapause progression in a tephritid fly, Rhagoletis pomonella. Also called the apple maggot fly, R. pomonella is native to North America, where it infests fruits of native Crataegus (hawthorn) species throughout its range. Derived populations of the fly infest apples (Malus domesticus), and thus have evolved in the last ~250 years since apples were introduced. Many molecular studies in conjunction with mark-recapture experiments document that the populations, or host races, remain genetically distinct despite ongoing gene flow, making R. pomonella a textbook example of incipient speciation with gene flow and host associated divergence. Strong natural selection on two primary traits, host finding behavior and seasonal timing, maintain genetic divergence. Both populations (hereafter apple and haw flies) have one generation per year, with a functionally obligate pupal diapause, overwintering in the soil. Adults must emerge coincident with host fruit availability, typically a period of only a few weeks, in order to successfully oviposit into fruits. Apple flies have evolved an earlier (~3 week) emergence timing to synchronize with apples, which fruit about 3 weeks earlier than hawthorn at a typical, sympatric site in the Midwest (e.g., Michigan or Illinois, USA). We combined RNA sequencing (RNAseq), phenotyping of emergence timing and brain morphology, and whole genome pooled resequencing (Poolseq) to infer mechanisms underlying segregating variation for diapause phenology in each Rhagoletic pomonella host race, and the evolved difference in phenology between host races.
Project description:The distribtion of H3K18ac in the fruit fly genome was analyzed in wing imaginal discs treated for 2 h with etomoxir and compared to control discs.
Project description:We performed a genome-wide ChIP analysis to find the set of target genes regulated by Cbt in Drosophila wing imaginal discs. We reported multiple transcriptional regulators and genes involved in the developlment, growth and patterning of the fruit fly.
Project description:STING is a protein that plays important role in innate immune response. However, it also has functions not related to immunity. We studied role of STING in fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We used microarray to detect gene expression changes in dSTING knockout fruit flies. We studied role of STING in fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. To detect gene expression changes in dSTING-knockout flies microarray assay was used.
