Life Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Osmotic Stress On Oxygen Consumption Of Drosophila Cells (Kc167), Ali A. Ahmed, Rajib Hassan, Michael A. Menze

The Cardinal Edge

This article investigates the effect of osmotic stress on a drosophila cell line called Kc167.

The embryonic-derived fly (Drosophila melanogaster) cell line, Kc-167, was employed as a model for water-stress sensitivity in Arthropods. Like mammalian cells, cells derived from the fruit fly contain the same basic set of membranous components found in all eukaryotic cells. A series of experiments were conducted to characterize the mitochondrial repones of Kc167 cells to water stress. Precisely, the oxygen flux in a sealed respirometer chamber containing Kc167 cells was measured under hyperosmotic and control conditions. Mitochondrial uncouplers were used in some experiments for intact …

Cytoplasmically Localized Trna-Derived Fragments Inhibit Translationin Drosophila S2 Cells, Syed Muhammad Hamid, Bünyami̇n Akgül

Turkish Journal of Biology

Transfer ribonucleic acids (tRNAs) serve not only as amino acid carriers during translation but also as a template for the biogenesis of short fragments that can regulate gene expression. Despite recent progress in the function of tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs), their intracellular localization, protein partners, and role in regulating translation are not well understood. We used synthetic tRFs to investigate their localization and function in Drosophila S2 cells. Under our experimental setting, all synthetic tRFs tested were localized at distinct sites within the cytoplasm in a similar manner in Drosophila S2 cells. Cytoplasmically-localized tRFs were positioned in close proximity to GW182 …

The Effects Of Alcohol On The Developing Drosophila Nervous System, Erica E. Hassoun

The Cardinal Edge

Ethanol is the most common human teratogen, contributing to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) when effects are the most severe. Key effects of fetal alcohol syndrome are observed in the nervous system. The high prevalence of prenatal alcohol exposure necessitates novel treatment and prevention methods. However, ethical issues prevent researching humans in utero. For this reason, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as a model organism for studying FAS. Because Drosophila is a small and non-placental organism, its environment can be easily controlled, allowing for specific doses and time periods of ethanol exposure to be studied. This review discusses findings …

Molecular Characterization Of A Gene Encoding Insulin-Like Peptide 5 (Ilp5) In Drosophila Virilis, Nikolas R. Likourentzos, Jae H. Park

Pursuit - The Journal of Undergraduate Research at The University of Tennessee

The study of the insulin-like peptides of Drosophila can provide insight of their similarities to mammalian insulin and their potential usage in treating human insulin-related diseases. In this study, we isolated and characterized cDNA encoding insulin-like peptide (ILP) 5 in D. virilis by using RNA purification, reverse transcription, and RACE protocols. Subsequently, various bioinformatic softwares were employed to predict peptide structure. The ILP5 gene (587 base pairs) codes for 121 amino acids that make up prepro-ILP5. After maturation, functional ILP5 is a peptide of two 25 amino acid chains, A- and B-chain, connected by two disulfide bonds. Sequencing genomic DNA …

Examining The Roles Of The Conserved Mrna Deadenylase Complex On Drosophila Neuronal Structures, Megan Mccaughey, Scott Barbee

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

The most common cause of inherited mental deficiency and monogenetic cause of autism is Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). There is little known about the origins of this disease which will be investigated in the present study. The series of experiments conducted examined the potential role of mRNA deadenylation proteins as contributing factors to the pathogenesis of FXS using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. One of the main complexes involved in deadenylation is the CNOT complex, which is comprised of many proteins, including POP2, TWIN, and NOT3. Each protein plays a unique role within the CNOT complex. This goal of …

The Drosophilids Of A Pristine Old-Growth Northern Hardwood Forest, Thomas Werner

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The current study summarizes the results of a species inventory survey for drosophilid flies (family Drosophilidae, order Diptera) in a primeval forest in northern Michigan. The two main goals of the investigation were to list the species inhabiting the Huron Mountain Club and to collect live specimens for the illustrations in the book "Drosophilids of the Midwest and Northeast". From 2014 to 2016, I found 22 drosophilid species, which belong to the two subfamilies Steganinae and Drosophilinae. Future long-term studies are planned to test how the drosophilid populations respond to climate change.

Investigating Peroxiredoxins Impact On Amps, Noah Earland

SMU Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Orr-Radyuk lab is interested in understanding the link between aging and genetic influences controlling the cell’s redox state, as determined by enzymes involved in reducing and oxidizing (redox) reactions. They have observed that Drosophila normally exhibit a shift towards a pro-oxidizing cellular environment and spikes in AMP levels, independent of infections, when they reach old age. Additionally, peroxiredoxins (PRXs), a family of thiol-dependent peroxidases, have been shown to impact lifespan, and regulate the same pro-oxidizing shift seen in advanced age. Beyond their peroxidase functions, RXRs can also interact with signaling pathways related to immunity. Previous data showed that PRXs …

Investigation Of The Genotoxic And Antigenotoxic Properties Of Essential Oils Obtained From Two Origanum Species By Drosophila Wing Smart Assay, Eşref Demi̇r, Bülent Kaya, Ricard Marcos, Serap Kocaoğlu Cenkci̇, Hüseyi̇n Çeti̇n

Turkish Journal of Biology

In this study, essential oils extracted from 2 species of oregano, Origanum onites L. and Origanum minutiflorum O.Schwarz & P.H.Davis, were assayed for genotoxicity using the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) in Drosophila melanogaster. Results indicated that there is no significant genotoxic effect of the 2 oils tested. In addition, the antigenotoxic activities of these oils against potassium dichromate (K_{2}Cr_{2}O_{7}) and cobalt chloride (CoCl_{2}) were tested. Results indicated that essential oil cotreatments were able to abolish the genotoxic effects induced by the 2 metal compounds. It is suggested that the observed effects can be linked to the antioxidant properties …

The Effect Of Diazinon On Egg Fertility And Development In Drosophila Melanogaster, Ayla Karataş, Zafer Bahçeci̇, Ensar Başpinar

Turkish Journal of Biology

This study investigated the effects of diazinon, an organic phosphoric insecticide, on some developmental features of Drosophila melanogaster. The aim was to determine if any developmental inhibition occurs when diazinon is applied and if so, to determine which developmental stages are affected. Therefore, diazinon was applied to Drosophila melanogaster eggs, larvae, and adults, and its effects were observed. During the experiments 3 concentrations with values lower than LC_{50} were utilized (6 × 10^{-5}, 6 × 10^{-6}, 6 × 10^{-7} ppm). Diazinon solution was applied to Drosophila melanogaster by means of nutrition, adding it to the culture medium. The results show …

Testing The Randomness Of The Samples Of Body Size In A Replicated Design In Drosophila Melanogaster Populations From The Eastern Mediterranean, Ergi̇ Deni̇z Özsoy, Ali̇ Ni̇hat Bozcuk

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Strong body size correlates, wing and thorax lengths, of Drosophila melanogaster populations from the Eastern Mediterranean were measured and tested for the presence of autocorrelation, i.e. nonrandom alternation of individual measurements within a sample. The experimental design was a laboratory setup aiming at overall homogeneity in fly culture conditions, which was achieved. A t-test, first proposed by Von Neumann, was performed for the autocorrelation analysis in each population. No significant autocorrelation was detectable, indicating very low bias in the experimental design for nonrandom picking of individuals for measurements. The test is suggested for routine use in studies before any inference …

Anti-Genotoxic Effect Of Ascorbic Acid On Mutagenic Dose Of Three Alkylating Agents, Bülent Kaya

Turkish Journal of Biology

The antimutagenic effect of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) was investigated by using the Drosophila wing spot test. In this assay, 3-day-old transheterozygous larvae for the multiple wing hair (mwh, 3-0.3) and flare (flr, 3-38.8) genes were treated with 3 direct acting mutagens: ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and N-nitroso N-ethylurea (ENU). The results obtained from 3 reference mutagens were clearly genotoxic in the Drosophila wing somatic mutation and recombination test. The calculated concentration of ascorbic acid as recommended dietary allowance (RDA) did not induce the frequency of the mutant clones recorded. When co-treatment experiments with ascorbic acid were carried …

Lack Of Minority Advantage In Drosophilamelanogaster Mutants, Şükran Çakir, Aykut Kence

Turkish Journal of Biology

The objective of this study was to test the generality of frequency-dependent fitness in the mating behavior of Drosophila, called the minority effect and to investigate the effect of artificial olfactory cues and marking the flies by wing cillipng on the frequency-dependent mate choice. In the mating experiments using wild type (oregon) and mutant (white-eyed, sepia, ebony) strains of Drosophila melanogaster, the mating success of mutant males did not increase as their frequency decreased. In addition, the olfactory cue hypothesis was not supported by the results of the experiments with artificial scent. The results of this study did not support …

Crossroads, Milestones, Amd Landmarks In Insect Development And Evolution: Implications For Systematics, Rob Desalle, Donat Agosti, Michael Whiting, Beatriz Perez-Sweeney, James Remsen, Rick Baker, James Bonacum, Ranhy Bang

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

Our understanding of insect development and evolution has increased greatly due to recent advances in the comparative developmental approach. Modem developmental biology techniques such as in situ hybridization and molecular analysis of developmentally important genes and gene families have greatly facilitated these advances. The role of the comparative developmental approach in insect systematics is explored in this paper and we suggest two important applications of the approach to insect systematics--character dissection and morphologicallandmarking. Exi~ng morphological characters can be dissected into their genetic and molecular components in some cases and this will lead to more and richer character information in systematic …

Campaniform Sensilla Patterns On The Wings Of Drosophila, Charles L. Hamrum, Arthur W. Glass, Vern Sisson

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Campaniform sensilla have been described from the wings, mouthparts, legs, and other parts of the insect body. These small sense organs were known under several terms until Berlese ( 1909) applied the term "campaniformi" because of their dome, or bell-shaped character. Numerous functions have been suggested for these organs which seem to be stress receptors of some sort. Very few attempts have been made to utilize these sensilla as taxonomic characters.