The rapid decline in range and relative abundance of some wild North American bumble bee species, combined with the commercialization colonies as agricultural pollinators, recent evidence that bees can be infected by honey viruses, suggest possibility invasive emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) may play a substantial current future role populations. Pollination greenhouses is primarily mediated industrially produced Bombus impatiens colonies. use B. preferred because it native species East...

Abstract Fertility is a highly complex and regulated phenomenon essential for the survival of any species. To identify Drosophila fertility‐specific neural networks, we used GAL4/UAS enhancer trap genetic screen that selectively inactivates groups neurons. We identified GAL4 line ( bwk tqs ) has female sterile phenotype only when it expresses tetanus toxin light chain (TeTxLC). These flies lack oviduct contraction, lay almost no eggs, sperm accumulate in oviducts, fewer than normal are seen...

The fruitless (fru) gene in Drosophila melanogaster is a multifunctional that has sex-specific functions the regulation of male sexual behavior and sex-nonspecific affecting adult viability external morphology. While much attention focused on fru's roles, less known about its functions. We have examined role embryonic neural development. fru transcripts from promoters are expressed beginning at earliest stages neurogenesis, Fru proteins present both neurons glia. In embryos lack most or all...

Chromatin undergoes a variety of changes in response to UV-induced DNA damage, including histone acetylation. In human and Drosophila cells, this is affected by mutations the tumor suppressor p53. work, we report that there global decrease trimethylated Lys-9 H3 (H3K9me3) salivary gland cells wild type flies UV irradiation. contrast, with Dmp53 gene have reduced basal levels H3K9me3, which are then increased after The reduction H3K9me3 damage occurs preferentially heterochromatin. Our...

Abstract It has been observed that there is a lower Parkinson’s disease (PD) incidence in tobacco users. Nicotine cholinergic agonist and the principal psychoactive compound linked to cigarette addiction. Different studies have shown nicotine beneficial effects on sporadic genetic models of PD. In this work we evaluate nicotine’s protective effect Drosophila melanogaster model for PD where Synphilin-1 (Sph-1) expressed dopaminergic neurons. moderate neuron survival becomes more evident as...

The transcription and DNA repair factor TFIIH is composed of 10 subunits. Mutations in the XPB, XPD, p8 subunits are genetically linked to human diseases, including cancer. However, no reports mutations other have been reported higher eukaryotes. Here, we analyze at genetic, molecular, biochemical levels Drosophila melanogaster p52 (DMP52) subunit TFIIH. We found that DMP52 encoded by gene marionette a defective produces UV light-sensitive flies specific phenotypes during development:...

Synphilin-1 is a protein encoded by the human SNCAIP gene whose function has yet to be fully understood. However, it been linked familial Parkinson's disease (PD). major component of Lewy bodies found in neurons substantia nigra pars compacta PD patients. expression serotonergic and/or dopaminergic Drosophila melanogaster induces neurodegeneration, as well motor and non-motor like symptoms. In this work, we examined contribution circuits development PD-like phenotypes. We that olfactory...

Shaker, a voltage-dependent K + channel, is enriched in the mushroom bodies (MBs), locus of olfactory learning Drosophila . Mutations shaker are known to alter excitability, neurotransmitter release, synaptic plasticity, and learning. However, direct link Shaker channels MB intrinsic neuron (MBN) physiology has not been documented. We found that transcripts for shab , shaw shal among which only Shal have reported code A-type currents, present MBs. The electrophysiological data showed absence...

Mutations in certain subunits of the DNA repair/transcription factor complex TFIIH are linked to human syndromes xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), Cockayne's syndrome (CS), and trichothiodystrophy (TTD). One these subunits, p8/TTDA, interacts with p52 XPD is important maintaining stability. Drosophila mutants (Dmp52) subunit exhibit phenotypic defects similar those observed TTD patients p8/TTDA XPD, including reduced levels TFIIH. Here, we demonstrate that several Dmp52 phenotypes, lethality,...

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in humans. It affects 1% of population over 65-years old. Its causes are environmental and genetic. As world ages, there an urgent need for better more detailed animal models this kind disease. In work we show that use transgenic Drosophila comparable to complicated costly such as mice. The model behaves very similar equivalent mice model. We both Synphilin-1 α-synuclein toxic by themselves, but when co-expressed,...

In humans, there is a strong correlation between sensitivity to substances of abuse and addiction risk. This differential tolerance drugs has genetic component. The identification human factors that alter drug been difficult task. For this reason taking advantage the fact Drosophila responds similarly humans many drugs, genetically it high degree homology (sharing at least 70% genes known be involved in diseases), we looked for altered their nicotine sensitivity. We developed an...

Signal transduction initiated by the egg peptide, speract, in sea urchin sperm is not fully understood. Hypotonically swollen are a suitable model to study peptide signal transduction. Ion substitution experiments now indicate (i) that permeability Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ contributes resting membrane potential; (ii) repolarization induced nM concentrations of speract Na+ dependent mediated an as yet unidentified channel; (iii) depolarization triggered involves Ca2+ channels since it...

Mutations in XPB and XPD TFIIH helicases have been related with three hereditary human disorders: xeroderma pigmentosum, Cockayne syndrome, trichothiodystrophy. The dual role of DNA repair transcription makes it difficult to discern which the mutant phenotypes is due defects any these different processes. We used haywire (hay), theDrosophila homolog, dissect this problem. Our results show that when hay dosage affected, fly shows structures require high levels transcription. found a genetic...

It has been demonstrated that the human tumor suppressor p53 an important role in modulating histone modifications after UV light irradiation. In this work we explored if Drosophila homologue a similar role. Taking advantage of existence polytene chromosomes salivary glands third instar larvae, analyzed K9 and K14 H3 acetylation patterns situ irradiation wild‐type Dmp53 null flies. As cells, damage there is increase organisms. mutant flies, response significantly affected at position. These...

The dysfunction of the proteasome-ubiquitin system is commonly reported in several neurodegenerative diseases. Post mortem samples brains patients with Parkinson´s disease present cytoplasmic inclusions that are rich proteins such as ubiquitin, Tau, and α-synuclein. In disease, a specific reduction some proteasome subunits has also been reported. However, role different dopaminergic neuron degeneration not thoroughly explored. this work, we used Gal4/UAS to test fourteen Drosophila...

To conduct differential gene expression analysis, ovaries from the cattle tick

The XPD/ERCC2/Rad3 gene is required for excision repair of UV-damaged DNA and an important component nucleotide repair. Mutations in the XPD generate cancer-prone syndrome, xeroderma pigmentosum, Cockayne’s trichothiodystrophy. has a 5′- to 3′-helicase activity TFIIH transcription factor, which essential RNA polymerase II elongation. We present here characterization Drosophila melanogaster (DmXPD). DmXPD encodes product that highly related its human homologue. protein ubiquitous during...

Abstract The tyraminergic/octopaminergic system is central for the control of arthropod oviposition. Previous works demonstrated that pharmacological perturbation this inhibits oviposition in cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus . In work, we describe a physiologically active whole-mount preparation contractile ovary allows quantitative videometrical analysis contraction response to different compounds. Eight adrenergic ligands known inhibit oviposition, including octopamine and tyramine were...

Abstract Background Acaricide resistance is a central problem for the control of cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus . The physiological effects and phenotypes mutations that cause acaricide are not always well understood or characterized. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) confer cypermethrin knockdown ( kdr ) have been reported in R. These SNPs associated correlated with pyrethroid although there no direct evidence their presence does this organism. Methods Resistant susceptible strain...

We present the first analysis of dynamics transcription DNA-repair factor TFIIH at onset in early Drosophila development. is composed ten polypeptides that are part two complexes - core and CAK. found initially located cytoplasm syncytial blastoderm embryos, after mitotic division until cellular stage, moves from to nucleus. By contrast, CAK complex mostly cytoplasmic during cellularization gastrulation. However, both components positioned promoters genes activated onset. Later development,...