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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Target Recognition And Competitive Synaptogenesis In The Drosophila Giant Fiber System, Jason Joseph Hill
Target Recognition And Competitive Synaptogenesis In The Drosophila Giant Fiber System, Jason Joseph Hill
Open Access Dissertations
The development of complex neural networks relies on a careful balance of environmental cues to guide and shape both ends of the eventual connection. However, the correct wiring of circuits whose components share molecular profiles depends on a more elaborate phenomenon, competition. Despite being highly studied, there is still a lack of understanding as to the mechanism that allows molecularly identical cells to form exclusive connections with their targets. To address this complex question, we turned to a simple circuit within the genetically tractable fly. Responsible for the escape reflex, the Giant Fiber System is comprised of bilaterally symmetrical axons …
Expression Of Human Amyloid Precursor Protein In The Skeletal Muscles Of Drosophila Results In Age- And Activity-Dependent Muscle Weakness, Lawrence M. Schwartz, Chul Kim, Sapeckshita Srivastava, Marian Rice, Tanja A. Godenschwege, Brooke Bentley, Saranya Ravi, Shuang Shao, Ig T. Woodard
Expression Of Human Amyloid Precursor Protein In The Skeletal Muscles Of Drosophila Results In Age- And Activity-Dependent Muscle Weakness, Lawrence M. Schwartz, Chul Kim, Sapeckshita Srivastava, Marian Rice, Tanja A. Godenschwege, Brooke Bentley, Saranya Ravi, Shuang Shao, Ig T. Woodard
Lawrence M. Schwartz
Background One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, and several other degenerative disorders such as Inclusion Body Myositis, is the abnormal accumulation of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and its proteolytic amyloid peptides. To better understand the pathological consequences of inappropriate APP expression on developing tissues, we generated transgenic flies that express wild-type human APP in the skeletal muscles, and then performed anatomical, electrophysiological, and behavioral analysis of the adults. Results We observed that neither muscle development nor animal longevity was compromised in these transgenic animals. However, human APP expressing adults developed age-dependent defects in both climbing and flying. We could …
Polygenic Resistance In The Highly Ddt-Resistant 91-R Strain Of Drosophila Melanogaster Involves Decreased Penetration, Increased Metabolism And Direct Excretion Of Ddt, Joseph P. Strycharz
Polygenic Resistance In The Highly Ddt-Resistant 91-R Strain Of Drosophila Melanogaster Involves Decreased Penetration, Increased Metabolism And Direct Excretion Of Ddt, Joseph P. Strycharz
Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014
Resistance to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in the 91-R strain of Drosophila melanogaster is extremely high compared to the susceptible Canton-S strain (>1500 times). Oxidative detoxification is involved in resistance but is not the only mechanism. Rates of DDT penetration, metabolism, and excretion were determined radiometrically between resistant 91-R and susceptible Canton-S strains. Contact penetration was ~1.5-times slower with 91-R flies compared to Canton-S flies. The 91-R strain had 13-fold more cuticular hydrocarbons, possibly resulting in penetration differences. DDT was metabolized ~33-fold more extensively by 91-R than Canton-S resulting in dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD), two unidentified metabolites and polar conjugates being formed in …
A Regulatory Code For Neurogenic Gene Expression In The Drosophila Embryo, Michele Markstein, Robert Zinzen, Peter Markstein, Ka Ping Yee, Albert Erives, Angela Stathopoulos, Michael Levine
A Regulatory Code For Neurogenic Gene Expression In The Drosophila Embryo, Michele Markstein, Robert Zinzen, Peter Markstein, Ka Ping Yee, Albert Erives, Angela Stathopoulos, Michael Levine
Michele Markstein
Bioinformatics methods have identified enhancers that mediate restricted expression in the Drosophila embryo. However, only a small fraction of the predicted enhancers actually work when tested in vivo. In the present study, co-regulated neurogenic enhancers that are activated by intermediate levels of the Dorsal regulatory gradient are shown to contain several shared sequence motifs. These motifs permitted the identification of new neurogenic enhancers with high precision: five out of seven predicted enhancers direct restricted expression within ventral regions of the neurogenic ectoderm. Mutations in some of the shared motifs disrupt enhancer function, and evidence is presented that the Twist and …