Cloning of the neurodegeneration gene drop-dead and characterization of additional phenotypes of its mutation.

Fly
Edward M Blumenthal

Abstract

Mutations in the Drosophila gene drop-dead (drd) result in early adult lethality and neurodegeneration, but the molecular identity of the drd gene and its mechanism of action are not known. This paper describes the characterization of a new X-linked recessive adult-lethal mutation, originally called lot's wife (lwf(1)) but subsequently identified as an allele of drd (drd(lwf)); drd(lwf) mutants die within two weeks of eclosion. Through mapping and complementation, the drd gene has been identified as CG33968, which encodes a putative integral membrane protein of unknown function. The drd(lwf) allele is associated with a nonsense mutation that eliminates nearly 80% of the CG33968 gene product; mutations in the same gene were also found in two previously described drd alleles. Characterization of drd (lwf) flies revealed additional phenotypes of drd, most notably, defects in food processing by the digestive system and in oogenesis. Mutant flies store significantly more food in their crops and defecate less than wild-type flies, suggesting that normal transfer of ingested food from the crop into the midgut is dependent upon the DRD gene product. The defect in oogenesis results in the sterility of homozygous mutant females and is as...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 26, 2012·Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·Christine Lynn Sansone, Edward M Blumenthal
Jan 30, 2010·Arthropod Structure & Development·John G StoffolanoAnna Maria Fausto
Jan 30, 2010·Progress in Neurobiology·Tara N Edwards, Ian A Meinertzhagen
Jun 9, 2009·Journal of Insect Physiology·Cassandra R PellerEdward M Blumenthal
Nov 30, 2013·Aging Cell·Jeanette BrejningAnders Olsen
Sep 15, 2012·Annual Review of Genetics·M JaiswalH J Bellen
Sep 26, 2014·Journal of Virology·Stanislava ChtarbanovaJean-Luc Imler
Jan 27, 2018·Journal of Insect Physiology·Sean ConwayEdward M Blumenthal

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a specific process that leads to programmed cell death through the activation of an evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway leading to pathognomic cellular changes distinct from cellular necrosis