Project description:To address the molecular mechanisms underlying environmental adaptation, we studied a Drosophila melanogaster line, termed Dark-fly, which has been maintained in constant dark conditions for 57 years (1400 generations).The structural gene copy number changes between the dark fly and its control were assessed by aCGH array. The comparison showed that hundreds of genes in the dark fly bear duplications or deletions relative to the control line.
Project description:Drosophila melanogaster larvae reared on isocaloric diets with different protein/sugar ratios, exhibit different developmental times and the eclosed adults show different metabolite pools of glycogen and triglycerides (Matzkin et al., 2011, PMID: 21525254). To investigate the effect of larval diet on adult neurological processes at the gene expression level we performed high throughout RNA sequencing of fly heads reared in two different protein/sugar ratio diets.
Project description:To understand the effects of the microbiome of Drosophila melanogaster on host gene expression, we compared the transcriptome of guts from conventionally reared flies to their axenically (germ-free)-reared counterparts. Our analysis used dissected intestines from 4-7 day-old adult females and included two wild-type fly lines, OregonR and CantonS, as well as an immune-deficient line, RelishE20. With one of the wild-type lines, CantonS, we also looked at the impact of microbiome on the transcriptional profile of dissected intestines from aged cohorts (35-40 day-old females) and young (4-7 day-old) non-gut tissues (all tissues remaining from samples dissected for the analysis of guts.
Project description:To address the molecular mechanisms underlying environmental adaptation, we studied a Drosophila melanogaster line, termed Dark-fly, which has been maintained in constant dark conditions for 57 years (1400 generations).The structural gene copy number changes between the dark fly and its control were assessed by aCGH array. The comparison showed that hundreds of genes in the dark fly bear duplications or deletions relative to the control line. The copy number increase and decrease in the dark flies were determined by two-channel array hybridization with the control line. In addition to biological replicates, a Cy5-Cy3 dye swap was performed.Self-hybridization was also conducted to serve as a quality control.
Project description:To investigate gene expression changes in Drosophila head tissues during social isolation, we performed RNA-sequencing on fruit fly head samples obtained from male flies that have been group-reared for 7 days (Grp), isolated (single-housed) for 7 days (Iso7) and isolated (single-housed) for only 1 day (Iso1). Using differential gene expression analysis, we found a group of candidate genes that are specific to chronic social isolation: they exhibited significant gene expression change in both comparisons of “Grp vs Iso1” and “Iso1 vs Iso7”.
Project description:Thermal acclimation study on Drosophila melanogaster reared at 3 different temperatures (12, 25, and 31oC). The proteomic profiles of D. melanogaster under these different temperatures were analyzed and compared using label-free tandem mass spectrometry.
Project description:The Personalized Discovery Process is the only program offering patients treatment recommendations based on an empirically constructed Drosophila "fly" model of their disease. Special committee selects one of the one of the few 2-3 FDA approved drug combinations or single agents that improved survival in the fly cancer model.
Project description:A method for the long-term maintenance of germ-free flies was established using aseptic isolators. The methodology effectively and reliably yields large numbers of germ-free flies in homogeneous cultures. Germ-free flies exhibited increased lifespan (only female flies) and decreased egg production, markedly reduced fat storage, less midday sleep, and enhanced aggressiveness (male flies). Fructilactobacillus—a species of fly intestinal microbes—was re-colonized in germ-free flies, and these gnotobiotic flies were successfully maintained for numerous generations. The proteome of those flies were analyzed.
Project description:One of the critical substances that mammals highly regulate via the respiratory, cardiovascular and neurologic systems is O2. Both low and high O2 levels can induce major morbidities as well as mortality. Indeed, O2 has been often considered as both an elixir and a poison in humans. In current study, we have used an experimental selection approach to generate Drosophila strains that are tolerant to severe hyperoxic environment. Gene expression profiling is then applied to investigate the mechanisms underlying hyperoxia tolerance in the newly generated strains. 27 isogenic D. melanogaster Lines were pooled and following long-term selection over generations with increased oxygen level in the culture environment. The differences in gene expression were compared between adapted flies and generation matched naive controls by microarray.
