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:Understanding the mechanisms driving behavioral evolution enhances our knowledge of speciation and how behavioral potentials are genetically encoded. Male courtship behaviors, which evolve rapidly, are critical for pre-mating isolation. To investigate the genetic basis of species-specific courtship, we generated hybrid males by crossing two Drosophila melanogaster strains with D. simulans Lhr males. This design allowed us to assess how genetic background and female species identity influence male courtship behavior. In both single-pair and mate-choice assays, hybrid males displayed behavioral plasticity, adjusting their courtship strategies based on the female species. The maternal D. melanogaster strain significantly shaped hybrid behavioral repertoires. To identify the neural correlates, we examined fruitless (fru)-expressing neurons in hybrids. Their projection patterns resembled those in D. melanogaster, indicating conserved circuit architecture. Using CUT&Tag, we identified FruM target genes in both species, revealing conserved core and species-specific FruM targets. Focusing on chemosensory receptors with D. melanogaster-specific FruM binding, we conducted a genetic screen in D. melanogaster, silencing neurons co-expressing fru P1 and specific receptor genes. Courtship preference assays identified three additional olfactory receptor neuron subtypes that modulate species-specific behavior. Using trans-Tango, we mapped second-order projection neurons of these subtypes, revealing their targets in higher-order brain centers. This study uncovers new molecular and neural mechanisms underlying the specification and evolution of courtship behavior, highlighting how genetic and sensory inputs shape species-specific behavioral outcomes.
Project description:Drosophila X chromosomes are subject to dosage compensation in males and are known to have a specialized chromatin structure in the male soma. We are interested in how specific chromatin structure change contributes to X chromosome hyperactivity and dosage compensation. We have conducted a global analysis of localize two dosage compensation complex dependent histone marks H4AcK16 and H3PS10 and one dosage compensation complex independent histone mark H3diMeK4 in the genome, especially on X chromosome by ChIP-chip approach in both male and female adult flies. We also probed general genomewide chromatin structure by deep DNA sequencing of sheared ChIP input DNA from male and female adult flies.
Project description:<p>Viral studies of Drosophila melanogaster typically involve virus injection with a small needle, causing post-injury a wounding/wound healing response, in addition to the effects of viral infection. However, the metabolic response to the needle injury is understudied, and many viral investigations neglect potential effects of this response. Furthermore, the wMel strain of the endosymbiont bacterium Wolbachia pipientis provides anti-viral protection in Drosophila. Here we used NMR-based metabolomics to characterise the acute wounding response in Drosophila and the relationship between wound healing and the Wolbachia strain wMel. The most notable response to wounding was found on the initial day of injury and lessened with time in both uninfected and Wolbachia infected flies. Metabolic changes in injured flies revealed evidence of inflammation, Warburg-like metabolism and the melanisation immune response as a response to wounding. In addition, at five days post injury Wolbachia infected injured flies were metabolically more similar to the uninjured flies than uninfected injured flies were at the same time point, indicating a positive interaction between Wolbachia infection and wound healing. This study is the first metabolomic characterisation of the wound response in Drosophila and its findings are crucial to the metabolic interpretation of viral experiments in Drosophila in both past and future studies.</p>
Project description:Because pink1-mutant flies exhibit a global shutdown of protein synthesis, we decided to measure the levels of individual proteins in adult flies through quantitative proteomics.
Project description:Five different mitochondrial strains were introgressed in male and female fruit flies with identical (w1118) nuclear genetic background.