Name: quantifying abdominal pigmentation in drosophila melanogaster
Uploaded: 2017-06-01T12:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantifying Abdominal Pigmentation in Drosophila melanogaster at JoVE.com

Questo lavoro è stato finanziato dalla National Science Foundation per IOS-1256565 e IOS-1557638 a AWS. Ringraziamo Patricia Wittkopp e tre anonimi recensori per i loro commenti utili su una versione precedente di questo articolo.

1. Montaggio del campione NOTA: Conservare le mosche morte in etanolo al 70% in acqua prima dell&#39;immagine. <ol><li> Versare 10 ml di agar 1,25% agar disciolto in acqua bollente in un piatto di Petri da 60 mm x 15 mm e lasciarlo impostare. </li><li> Sotto un microscopio di dissezione, utilizzare una coppia di pinze a punta fine per fare una scanalatura di 20 mm, una scanalatura profonda di 2 mm di profondità da 1 mm sulla superficie del gel. Utilizzando pinze fine, incorporare il lato ...

Questa metodologia consente l&#39;acquisizione precisa, rapida e ripetibile di dati di pigmentazione in una forma quantitativa adatta a più analisi a valle. Il metodo è stato utilizzato per acquisire dati sull&#39;effetto della temperatura sulla pigmentazione addominale in una linea isogenica di mosche. Tuttavia, la metodologia potrebbe essere utilizzata negli studi di avanzamento genetico per identificare i geni che stanno alla base delle differenze di pigmentazione tra individui, popolazioni o specie o studi reverse...

La pigmentazione mostra enormi variazioni fenotipiche tra specie, popolazioni e individui, e anche all&#39;interno di individui durante l&#39;ontogenesi 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 . Sebbene ci siano innumerevoli studi di pigmentazione in un&#39;ampia varietà di animali, la pigmentazione è stata forse meglio studiata in Drosophila melanogaster , dove è stato utilizzato il pieno potere della genetica molecolare per chiarire i meccanismi di sviluppo e fisiologici che regolano la pigmentazione e come questi meccanismi evolvono 1 , 6 . Molti sono noti sui geni che regolano la sintesi biochimica dei pigmenti in D. melanogaster 7 , 8 ei geni che controllano la temporale e la spazialità diStribuzione di questa biosintesi 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 . Inoltre, la mappatura genetica ha individuato i siti genetici che sottendono le differenze intra- e interspecifiche nella pigmentazione in D. melanogaster 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 . Sono stati esplorati anche i rapporti tra la pigmentazione e le caratteristiche pleiotropiche, come il comportamento 18 , 19 e l&#39;immunità 19 , 20 , così come il significato adattativo dei modelli di pigmentazione 15 , 21 , 22 . Come tale, la pigmentazione in D. melanogaster è emersa come un potente ma semplice mOdel per lo sviluppo e l&#39;evoluzione di fenotipi complessi. La pigmentazione nell&#39;adulto D. melanogaster è caratterizzata da pattern distinti di melanizzazione sul corpo, in particolare sulle ali e sul torace dorsale e sull&#39;addome. È la pigmentazione di ogni piastra cuticolare (tergita) sull&#39;addoma dorsale, tuttavia, che ha ricevuto la più attenzione. C&#39;è una notevole variabilità in questa pigmentazione ( Figura 1A- F ), a causa sia dei genetici 17 , 23 che quelli ambientali 24 , 25 fattori. La cuticola di un tergite addominale è costituita da compartimenti di sviluppo anteriori e posteriori ( Figura 1G ), ciascuno dei quali può essere ulteriormente suddiviso a seconda della pigmentazione e dell&#39;ornamento 26 . Il vano anteriore comprende sei cuticolaI tipi (a1-a6) e lo scomparto posteriore comprendono tre (p1-p3) ( Figura 1G ). Di queste, la cuticola p1, p2 e a1 sono tipicamente piegate sotto il tergite in abdomeni non stretti in modo che siano nascosti. La cuticola affidabile è caratterizzata da una banda di pigmentazione pesante, qui indicata come una &quot;banda di pigmento&quot;, composta da tipi di cuticola a4 (pelosa con setole moderate) e a5 (pelose con grandi setole), con il bordo posteriore della banda Più pigmentato del bordo anteriore ( Figura 1G ). Anteriore a questa fascia è una regione di cuticola pelosa leggermente pigmentata, che ha setole posteriormente (a3) ​​ma non anteriormente (a2). La variazione della pigmentazione tra le mosche è osservata sia nell&#39;intensità della pigmentazione che nella larghezza della fascia di pigmento. In generale, la variazione è più grande nei segmenti più posteriori (segmenti addominali 5, 6 e 7) ed è più bassa nei segmenti più anteriori (addome addominale3 e 4) 24 . Inoltre, c&#39;è un dimorfismo sessuale nella pigmentazione di D. melanogaster , con i maschi in genere hanno completamente pigmentati quinto e sesto tergi addominali ( Figura 4C ). Nella maggior parte degli studi di pigmentazione addominale in D. melanogaster , la pigmentazione è stata trattata come un tratto categorico o ordinale, con il modello misurato 27 , 28 , 29 o semi-quantitativamente su scala 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 24 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35, 36 , 37 . Questi metodi inevitabilmente soffrono di una mancanza di precisione, e poiché si basano sulla valutazione soggettiva della pigmentazione, è difficile confrontare i dati tra gli studi. Alcuni autori hanno quantificato le dimensioni spaziali della pigmentazione 38 , 39 , l&#39;intensità della pigmentazione di un particolare tipo di cuticola 23 , 25 , 39 , 40 , o l&#39;intensità media della pigmentazione nel tergite addominale nel suo complesso 41 , 42 , 43 . Tuttavia, questi metodi di quantificazione non misurano sia l&#39;intensità e la distribuzione spaziale della pigmentazione addominale contemporaneamente e pertanto non catturano le sfumature di come la pigmentazione varia inTergita propria. Inoltre, molti di questi metodi di quantificazione 38 , 41 , 42 , 43 richiedono la dissezione e il montaggio della cuticola addominale. Ciò richiede tempo e distrugge il campione, rendendolo non disponibile per ulteriori analisi morfologiche. Poiché la comprensione dello sviluppo e dell&#39;evoluzione della pigmentazione addominale si approfondisce, saranno necessari strumenti più sofisticati per misurare rapidamente e con precisione sia la distribuzione spaziale che l&#39;intensità della pigmentazione. L&#39;obiettivo generale di questo metodo è quello di utilizzare l&#39;analisi delle immagini digitali per ottenere una misura replicabile e più precisa della pigmentazione addominale in D. melanogaster . La metodologia comprende tre fasi. In primo luogo, la mosca adulta è montata in modo non distruttivo e viene presa un&#39;immagine digitale dell&#39;addome dorsale. In secondo luogo, utilizzando una macro ImageJ, l&#39;utenteDefinisce una striscia anteriore-posteriore di pixel che si estende dall&#39;anteriore della cuticola a2 alla parte posteriore della cuticola a5 (casella verde, figura 1G ) sia sul terzo che sul quarto segmento addominale. Il valore medio di pixel lungo la larghezza di questa striscia viene quindi estratto lungo il suo asse lungo, generando un profilo che cattura la distribuzione spaziale e l&#39;intensità della pigmentazione in quanto cambia dall&#39;anteriore alla posteriore del tergito. In terzo luogo, uno script R viene utilizzato per descrivere il profilo di pigmentazione matematicamente utilizzando una spline cubica. Lo script R poi utilizza la spline e il suo primo e secondo derivato per estrarre la larghezza della cuticola a2-a5, la larghezza della fascia di pigmento e i livelli massimi e minimi di pigmentazione. Il metodo quantifica quindi sia le caratteristiche spaziali che la profondità della pigmentazione addominale. Questa metodologia quantifica la pigmentazione del terzo e del quarto tergi addominale,Che sono stati al centro di numerosi studi precedenti 1 , 15 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 28 , 33 , 39 , 42 , esclusivamente o in combinazione con più tergiti posteriori. Sebbene meno variabile rispetto al quinto e al sesto tergi addominale, i terzi e terzi non sono completamente pigmentati nei maschi, quindi questo protocollo può essere applicato sia ai maschi che alle femmine. Tuttavia, come indicato qui, il protocollo può essere utilizzato per misurare la pigmentazione nel quinto e sesto tergi addominale nelle femmine. Inoltre, piccole modifiche degli script utilizzati per estrarre le caratteristiche del profilo di pigmentazione dovrebbero permettere che il metodo venga utilizzato per quantificare la variazione della pigmentazione in un&#39;ampia varietà di altreorganismi.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Dumont #5 Biology Forceps</td>
			<td>FST</td>
			<td>11252-30</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Agar</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>5040</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissecting Scope</td>
			<td>Leica</td>
			<td>MZ16FA</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Base</td>
			<td>Leica</td>
			<td>MDG41</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Camera</td>
			<td>Leica</td>
			<td>DFC280</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gooseneck Cold Light Source</td>
			<td>Schott</td>
			<td>ACE 1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Image Acquisition Control Software</td>
			<td>Micro-Manager v1.3.20</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>https://micro-manager.org/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Image Analysis Software</td>
			<td>ImageJ</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Data Analysis Software</td>
			<td>R 3.3.2</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>https://www.r-project.org/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LED</td>
			<td>Thor Labs</td>
			<td>LEDWE-15</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Multimeter</td>
			<td>Fluke</td>
			<td>Fluke 75 Series II</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>60 x 15 mm Petri dish</td>
			<td>Celltreat Scientific Products</td>
			<td>229663</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stage micrometer</td>
			<td>Klarman Rulings, Inc.</td>
			<td>KR-867</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
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quantifying abdominal pigmentation in drosophila melanogaster

La pigmentazione è un tratto morfologicamente semplice ma altamente variabile che spesso ha un significato adattativo. Ha servito ampiamente come modello per comprendere lo sviluppo e l&#39;evoluzione dei fenotipi morfologici. La pigmentazione addominale in Drosophila melanogaster è stata particolarmente utile, consentendo ai ricercatori di identificare i loci che sono alla base delle variazioni inter- e intraspecifiche della morfologia. Fino ad oggi, tuttavia, la pigmentazione addominale D. melanogaster è stata ampiamente analizzata qualitativamente, attraverso un punteggio piuttosto che quantitativo, che limita le forme di analisi statistica che possono essere applicate ai dati di pigmentazione. Questo lavoro descrive una nuova metodologia che consente la quantificazione di vari aspetti del pattern di pigmentazione addominale di D. melanogaster adulte . Il protocollo include il montaggio del campione, la cattura delle immagini, l&#39;estrazione dei dati e l&#39;analisi. Tutto il software utilizzato per le macro delle funzioni di acquisizione e analisi delle immaginiScritta per l&#39;analisi delle immagini open source. Il vantaggio di questo approccio è la capacità di misurare con precisione i tratti di pigmentazione utilizzando una metodologia altamente riproducibile in diversi sistemi di imaging. Mentre la tecnica è stata utilizzata per misurare la variazione nei modelli di pigmentazione della terna di D. melanogaster adulte , la metodologia è flessibile e si applica generalmente ai modelli di pigmentazione in innumerevoli organismi diversi.

Il protocollo è stato utilizzato per esplorare l&#39;effetto dell&#39;allevamento della temperatura sulla pigmentazione addominale. Studi precedenti hanno dimostrato che un aumento della temperatura di sviluppo produce una diminuzione della diffusione della pigmentazione addominale in diverse specie di Drosophila , tra cui D. melanogaster 30 , 32 . In particolare, nei tergiti addominali 3 e 4, la portata della ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantifying Abdominal Pigmentation in Drosophila melanogaster at JoVE.com

Quantifying Abdominal Pigmentation in Drosophila melanogaster

Questo lavoro presenta un metodo per quantificare rapidamente e con precisione la pigmentazione addominale di Drosophila melanogaster utilizzando l&#39;analisi di immagine digitale. Questo metodo semplifica le procedure tra l&#39;acquisizione di fenotipi e l&#39;analisi dei dati e include il montaggio del campione, l&#39;acquisizione di immagini, l&#39;estrazione del valore dei pixel e la misurazione del tratto.

Quantificazione della pigmentazione addominale in<em&gt; Drosophila melanogaster</em

Pigmentation is a morphologically simple but highly variable trait that often has adaptive significance. It has served extensively as a model for ...

The overall goal of this methodology is to rapidly quantify abdominal pigmentation in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. This method can help answer key questions in the field of evolutionary biology such as identifying the genetic loci that underlie in turn in trust-specific variation morphology and understanding the development and evolution of morphological phenotypes. The main advantage of this technique is that it allows users to non-destructively measure various aspects of abdominal pigmentation including the spread and depth of pigmentation.Though this method can provide insight into Drosophila melanogaster's abdominal pigmentation, it can also be applied to other Drosophila species and easily adapted to measure pigmentation patterns in other insects and animal taxa. Prior to imaging, the flies can be stored in 70%ethanol to maintain their pigmentation. Visualization requires a mounting pad.Load a 60 millimeter Petri dish with about 10 milliliters of 1.25%agar in water. Under a microscope, use fine forceps to dig a 20 millimeter long, two millimeter wide, one millimeter deep trench into the gel. Several trenches can be made in one dish.Then embed flies into the trench with the surface for analysis sitting just above the gel surface. In this case, the dorsal side is of interest. Now, fill the dish with 70%ethanol until the flies are completely submerged.This reduces reflections off the cuticle that can obscure the pigmentation pattern. Now, start the imaging software and digital camera connected to the microscope. For a light source, cold light from a double gooseneck device is ample.In the image analysis software, set the image type to 8-bit. Then in the image capture software, toggle the Live setting to open a view window of the camera. Set the image type to Grayscale.Now, set the light source to its maximum intensity and position the lights about 120 millimeters from the stage. Set the microscope to 60 times magnification so the field of view is three millimeters wide. Then place the two millimeter stage micrometer into the field of view and focus on it.Returning to the software, adjust the exposure time to view the micrometer using the field found in the exposure box. Then set the scale. Open the straight line tool and draw the length of two millimeters along the stage micrometer.Then input that length under the Set Scale option. The window should then display the scale in pixels per micron. Take note of the scale and OK the adjustments.Now, return to the image capture software and use the Stop and Snap commands to capture an image of the stage micrometer. Then return to the image analysis software and save the image as a Tiff file. Now, focus on the dorsal midline of a mounted fly.The midline should be positioned straight up for the best imaging results. Push aside the wings and any other obtruding structures and adjust the lighting to best illuminate the cuticle. Next, set the exposure in the image capture software using the pixel value histogram as a guide to capture the full pixel range of the image without saturation, thereby maximizing contrast.Retain this exposure and lighting throughout the experiment. Now, before capturing an image, ensure that the abdominal segments of interest are in view. Then capture an image and save the image with the sample ID number in the filename.Use the format described in the written protocol. This analysis makes use of a macro provided by the authors. The image series to analysis should all be contained within the same file folder.Now, start the macro and follow the prompted commands. First, identify the location of the stored files. Then identify the location for where the analysis data should be stored.Next, input the number of characters that were used in the filenames so the software reads the image series correctly. The next prompt is for the width of the region of interest. Here, input the number of pixels along the anterior-posterior strip that needs to be analyzed.Now, at the prompt, make a choice to analyze the first image of the series. The other options are to analyze the next image in the series or to exit the analysis. The line tool gets automatically selected.Use it to identify the midline on the image by drawing a line along it in the anterior to posterior direction. Next, follow the macro prompts to identify the posterior edge of Tergite4 using the line tool. The line tool is made available to draw the line from the posterior midline edge to the right lateral edge so that the center of the line is just posterior to the posterior edge of the pigment band.Then define the anterior edge of Tergite4 using the line tool. Draw a line from the anterior midline edge to the right lateral edge. The middle of the line defined by a white square should sit at the anterior edge of the lightly pigmented cuticle.With this information, the macro now generates a pigmentation profile. However, the profile might be inaccurate if bristles or other blemishes cross the strip along which the profile is measured. To correct for this, select the Live preview on the histogram window and adjust the line such that the profile is smooth.For the image analysis strip to accurately capture the various aspects of pigmentation, it is vital to identify an analysis region that will have minimal noise caused by image or specimen irregularities. Now proceed to analyze Tergite3 in the same image and then move on to the next image. The described procedure was used to explore a known change in abdominal pigmentation caused by rearing temperature.The third and fourth tergites were examined several times under various lightings and exposures. Various aspects of the pigmentation were explored. And specifically, it was found that the pigmentation bands were wider when flies were reared at cooler temperatures.The calculated values were then compared to general subjective measures made on the same flies by five different observers. In the assessment of 45 female flies, the average observed ranking of the width of the fourth abdominal pigmentation band was tightly correlated with the macro's automated measurement. The same pigmentation band was also manually measured using imaging software.These results were also strongly correlated with measurements generated using the macro. The software was then tested to measure pigmentation in female ebony mutants which are well-known to have increased pigmentation in the third and fourth pigment bands. The method was also used to measure the fifth and sixth abdominal bands of wild type females.The automated technique always provided useful measurements of the pigment density and band size. After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to quickly and precisely quantify abdominal pigmentation in Drosophila. Mastering the technique mostly requires the depth use of forceps.Once mastered, the imaging portion of this technique can be done at a rate of 50 specimens per hour. Extracting the pigmentation measures from these images can be done at a pace of 70 images per hour.

quantifying-abdominal-pigmentation-in-drosophila-melanogaster

Research

JoVE Journal

Genetics

Quantifying Abdominal Pigmentation in Drosophila melanogaster

In Situ Labeling of Mitochondrial DNA Replication in Drosophila Adult Ovaries by EdU Staining

The mitochondrial genome is inherited exclusively through the maternal line. Understanding of how the mitochondrion and its genome are proliferated and transmitted from one generation to the next through the female oocyte is of fundamental importance. Because of the genetic tractability, and the elegant, ordered simplicity by which oocyte development proceeds, Drosophila oogenesis has become an invaluable system for mitochondrial study. An EdU (5-ethynyl-2&#180;-deoxyuridine) labeling method was utilized to detect mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication in Drosophila ovaries. This method is superior to the BrdU (5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine) labeling method in that it allows for good structural preservation and efficient fluorescent dye penetration of whole-mount tissues.
Here we describe a detailed protocol for labeling replicating mitochondrial DNA in Drosophila adult ovaries with EdU. Some technical solutions are offered to improve the viability of the ovaries, maintain their health during preparation, and ensure high-quality imaging. Visualization of newly synthesized mtDNA in the ovaries not only reveals the striking temporal and spatial pattern of mtDNA replication through oogenesis, but also allows for simple quantification of mtDNA replication under various genetic and pharmacological perturbations.

In Situ Labeling of Mitochondrial DNA Replication in Drosophila Adult Ovaries by EdU Staining

Drosophila oogenesis continues to be exceptionally useful in the study of mitochondrial proliferation and inheritance. This manuscript describes a detailed protocol used to label the replicating mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in Drosophila adult ovaries with 5-ethynyl-2&#180;-deoxyuridine (EdU), which facilitates uncovering mechanisms associated with mitochondrial inheritance that were previously debatable.

In Situ etichettatura di DNA mitocondriale di replica in Drosophila adulti ovaie di Edu colorazione

The mitochondrial genome is inherited exclusively through the maternal line. Understanding of how the mitochondrion and its genome are proliferated and ...

Ricerca

Genetica

High Fat Diet Feeding and High Throughput Triacylglyceride Assay in Drosophila Melanogaster

Heart disease is the number one cause of human death worldwide. Numerous studies have shown strong connections between obesity and cardiac malfunction in humans, but more tools and research efforts are needed to better elucidate the mechanisms involved. For over a century, the genetically highly tractable model of Drosophila has been instrumental in the discovery of key genes and molecular pathways that proved to be highly conserved across species. Many biological processes and disease mechanisms are functionally conserved in the fly, such as development (e.g., body plan, heart), cancer, and neurodegenerative disease. Recently, the study of obesity and secondary pathologies, such as heart disease in model organisms, has played a highly critical role in the identification of key regulators involved in metabolic syndrome in humans.
Here, we propose to use this model organism as an efficient tool to induce obesity, i.e., excessive fat accumulation, and develop an efficient protocol to monitor fat content in the form of TAGs accumulation. In addition to the highly conserved, but less complex genome, the fly also has a short lifespan for rapid experimentation, combined with cost-effectiveness. This paper provides a detailed protocol for High Fat Diet (HFD) feeding in Drosophila to induce obesity and a high throughput triacylglyceride (TAG) assay for measuring the associated increase in fat content, with the aim to be highly reproducible and efficient for large-scale genetic or chemical screening. These protocols offer new opportunities to efficiently investigate regulatory mechanisms involved in obesity, as well as provide a standardized platform for drug discovery research for rapid testing of the effect of drug candidates on the development or prevention of obesity, diabetes and related metabolic diseases.

High Fat Diet Feeding and High Throughput Triacylglyceride Assay in Drosophila Melanogaster

This is a high fat diet feeding protocol to induce obesity in Drosophila, a model for understanding fundamental molecular mechanisms implicated in lipotoxicity. It also provides a high throughput triacylglyceride assay for measuring fat accumulation in Drosophila and potentially other (insect) models under various dietary, environmental, genetic or physiological conditions.

Dieta grassa alta alimentazione e Throughput elevato dosaggio di Triacylglyceride in Drosophila Melanogaster

Heart disease is the number one cause of human death worldwide. Numerous studies have shown strong connections between obesity and cardiac malfunction in ...

Measuring Exercise Levels in Drosophila melanogaster Using the Rotating Exercise Quantification System (REQS)

Drosophila melanogaster is a new model organism for studies in exercise biology. To date, two main exercise systems, the Power Tower and the Treadwheel have been described. However, a method to measure the amount of additional animal activity induced through the exercise treatment has been lacking. The Rotating Exercise Quantification System (REQS) fills this need, providing a measure of animal activity for animals experiencing rotational exercise. This protocol details how to use the REQS to assess animal activity during rotational exercise and illustrates the type of data that can be generated. Here, we demonstrate how the REQS is used to measure sex- and strain-specific differences in exercise induced activity. The REQS can also be used to evaluate the impact of various other experimental parameters such as age, diet, or population size on exercise induced activity. In addition, it can be used to compare the efficacy of different exercise training protocols. Importantly, it provides an opportunity to standardize exercise treatments between strains, allowing the researcher to achieve equal amounts of activity between groups if needed. Thus, the REQS is a notable new resource for exercise biologists working with the Drosophila model system and complements existing exercise systems.

Measuring Exercise Levels in Drosophila melanogaster Using the Rotating Exercise Quantification System REQS

The Rotating Exercise Quantification System (REQS) can induce exercise in Drosophila melanogaster through rotation while simultaneously measuring the amount of activity performed by the animals. Here, we present a point-by-point protocol detailing how to measure activity levels of animals experiencing rotational exercise treatments using the REQS.

Misurazione dei livelli di esercizio in Drosophila melanogaster utilizzando il sistema di quantificazione esercizio rotanti (Rich)

Drosophila melanogaster is a new model organism for studies in exercise biology. To date, two main exercise systems, the Power Tower and the Treadwheel ...

The TreadWheel: Interval Training Protocol for Gently Induced Exercise in Drosophila melanogaster

The incidence of complex metabolic diseases has increased as a result of a widespread transition towards lifestyles of increased caloric intake and lowered activity levels. These multifactorial diseases arise from a combination of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. One such complex disease is Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), which is a cluster of metabolic disorders, including hypertension, hyperglycemia, and abdominal obesity. Exercise and dietary intervention are the primary treatments recommended by doctors to mitigate obesity and its subsequent metabolic diseases. Exercise intervention, in particular aerobic interval training, stimulates favorable changes in the common risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), and other conditions. With the influx of evidence describing the therapeutic effect exercise has on metabolic health, establishing a system that models exercise in a controlled setting provides a valuable tool for assessing the effects of exercise in an experimental context. Drosophila melanogaster is a great tool for investigating the physiological and molecular changes that result from exercise intervention. The flies have short lifespans and similar mechanisms of metabolizing nutrients when compared to humans. To induce exercise in Drosophila, we developed a machine called the TreadWheel, which utilizes the fly&#39;s innate, negative geotaxis tendency to gently induce climbing. This enables researchers to perform experiments on large cohorts of genetically diverse flies to better understand the genotype-by-environment interactions underlying the effects of exercise on metabolic health.

The TreadWheel: Interval Training Protocol for Gently Induced Exercise in Drosophila melanogaster

The TreadWheel uses rotational motion to gently induce exercise in adult Drosophila melanogaster by exploiting flies&#39; innate, negative geotaxis. It allows for analysis of the interactions between exercise and factors, such as genotype, sex, and diet, and their effect on physiological and molecular assays to assess metabolic health.

Il TreadWheel: Protocollo di allenamento intervallo per delicatamente indotto da esercizio in Drosophila melanogaster

The incidence of complex metabolic diseases has increased as a result of a widespread transition towards lifestyles of increased caloric intake and ...

Purification of Low-abundant Cells in the Drosophila Visual System

Recent improvements in the sensitivity of next generation sequencing have facilitated the application of transcriptomic and genomic analyses to small numbers of cells. Utilizing this technology to study development in the Drosophila visual system, which boasts a wealth of cell type-specific genetic tools, provides a powerful approach for addressing the molecular basis of development with precise cellular resolution. For such an approach to be feasible, it is crucial to have the capacity to reliably and efficiently purify cells present at low abundance within the brain. Here, we present a method that allows efficient purification of single cell clones in genetic mosaic experiments. With this protocol, we consistently achieve a high cellular yield after purification using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) (~25% of all labeled cells), and successfully performed transcriptomics analyses on single cell clones generated through mosaic analysis with a repressible cell marker (MARCM). This protocol is ideal for applying transcriptomic and genomic analyses to specific cell types in the visual system, across different stages of development and in the context of different genetic manipulations.

Here, we present a cell dissociation protocol for efficiently isolating cells present at low abundance within the Drosophila visual system through fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS).

Purificazione di basso-abbondanti cellule nel sistema visivo della drosofila

Recent improvements in the sensitivity of next generation sequencing have facilitated the application of transcriptomic and genomic analyses to small ...

An Assay for Quantifying Protein-RNA Binding in Bacteria

In the initiation step of protein translation, the ribosome binds to the initiation region of the mRNA. Translation initiation can be blocked by binding of an RNA binding protein (RBP) to the initiation region of the mRNA, which interferes with ribosome binding. In the presented method, we utilize this blocking phenomenon to quantify the binding affinity of RBPs to their cognate and non-cognate binding sites. To do this, we insert a test binding site in the initiation region of a reporter mRNA and induce the expression of the test RBP. In the case of RBP-RNA binding, we observed a sigmoidal repression of the reporter expression as a function of RBP concentration. In the case of no-affinity or very low affinity between binding site and RBP, no significant repression was observed. The method is carried out in live bacterial cells, and does not require expensive or sophisticated machinery. It is useful for quantifying and comparing between the binding affinities of different RBPs that are functional in bacteria to a set of designed binding sites. This method may be inappropriate for binding sites with high structural complexity. This is due to the possibility of repression of ribosomal initiation by complex mRNA structure in the absence of RBP, which would result in lower basal reporter gene expression, and thus less-observable reporter repression upon RBP binding.

In this method, we quantify the binding affinity of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) to cognate and non-cognate binding sites using a simple, live, reporter assay in bacterial cells. The assay is based on repression of a reporter gene.

Un saggio per quantificare il legame proteino-RNA nei batteri

In the initiation step of protein translation, the ribosome binds to the initiation region of the mRNA. Translation initiation can be blocked by binding ...

In Vivo Functional Study of Disease-associated Rare Human Variants Using Drosophila

Advances in sequencing technology have made whole-genome and whole-exome datasets more accessible for both clinical diagnosis and cutting-edge human genetics research. Although a number of in silico algorithms have been developed to predict the pathogenicity of variants identified in these datasets, functional studies are critical to determining how specific genomic variants affect protein function, especially for missense variants. In the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) and other rare disease research consortia, model organisms (MO) including Drosophila, C. elegans, zebrafish, and mice are actively used to assess the function of putative human disease-causing variants. This protocol describes a method for the functional assessment of rare human variants used in the Model Organisms Screening Center Drosophila Core of the UDN. The workflow begins with gathering human and MO information from multiple public databases, using the MARRVEL web resource to assess whether the variant is likely to contribute to a patient&#39;s condition as well as design effective experiments based on available knowledge and resources. Next, genetic tools (e.g., T2A-GAL4 and UAS-human cDNA lines) are generated to assess the functions of variants of interest in Drosophila. Upon development of these reagents, two-pronged functional assays based on rescue and overexpression experiments can be performed to assess variant function. In the rescue branch, the endogenous fly genes are &#34;humanized&#34;&#160;by replacing the orthologous Drosophila gene with reference or variant human transgenes. In the overexpression branch, the reference and variant human proteins are exogenously driven in a variety of tissues. In both cases, any scorable phenotype (e.g., lethality, eye morphology, electrophysiology) can be used as a read-out, irrespective of the disease of interest. Differences observed between reference and variant alleles suggest a variant-specific effect, and thus likely pathogenicity. This protocol allows rapid, in vivo assessments of putative human disease-causing variants of genes with known and unknown functions.

In Vivo Functional Study of Disease-associated Rare Human Variants Using Drosophila

The goal of this protocol is to outline the design and performance of in vivo experiments in Drosophila melanogaster to assess the functional consequences of rare gene variants associated with human diseases.

Studio funzionale in vivo sulle varianti umane rare associate alla malattia utilizzando la Drosophila

Advances in sequencing technology have made whole-genome and whole-exome datasets more accessible for both clinical diagnosis and cutting-edge human ...

In Vivo Forward Genetic Screen to Identify Novel Neuroprotective Genes in Drosophila melanogaster

There is much to understand about the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, including the underlying genes responsible. Forward genetic screening using chemical mutagens is a useful strategy for mapping mutant phenotypes to genes among Drosophila and other model organisms that share conserved cellular pathways with humans. If the mutated gene of interest is not lethal in early developmental stages of flies, a climbing assay can be conducted to screen for phenotypic indicators of decreased brain functioning, such as low climbing rates. Subsequently, secondary histological analysis of brain tissue can be performed in order to verify the neuroprotective function of the gene by scoring neurodegeneration phenotypes. Gene mapping strategies include meiotic and deficiency mapping that rely on these same assays can be followed by DNA sequencing to identify possible nucleotide changes in the gene of interest.

In Vivo Forward Genetic Screen to Identify Novel Neuroprotective Genes in Drosophila melanogaster

We present a protocol using a forward genetic approach to screen for mutants exhibiting neurodegeneration in Drosophila melanogaster. It incorporates a climbing assay, histology analysis, gene mapping and DNA sequencing to ultimately identify novel genes related to the process of neuroprotection.

In Vivo Avanti Schermo Genetico per Identificare Nuovi Geni Neuroprotettivi in Drosophila melanogaster

There is much to understand about the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, including the underlying genes responsible. Forward genetic ...

A Robust Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Assay for Quantifying Cytosine-guanine-guanine Trinucleotide Repeats in Fragile X Mental Retardation-1 Gene

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) and associated disorders are caused by expansion of the cytosine-guanine-guanine (CGG) trinucleotide repeat in the 5&#8217; untranslated region (UTR) of the Fragile X mental retardation-1 (FMR1) gene promoter. Conventionally, capillary electrophoresis fragment analysis on a genetic analyzer is used for the sizing of the CGG repeats of FMR1, but additional Southern blot analysis is required for exact measurement when the repeat number is higher than 200. Here, we present an accurate and robust polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method for quantification of the CGG repeats of FMR1. The first step of this test is PCR amplification of the repeat sequences in the 5&#8217;UTR of the FMR1 promoter using a Fragile X PCR kit, followed by purification of the PCR products and fragment sizing on a microfluidic capillary electrophoresis instrument, and subsequent interpretation of the number of CGG repeats by referencing standards with known repeats using the analysis software. This PCR-based assay is reproducible and capable of identifying the full range of CGG repeats of FMR1 promoters, including those with a repeat number of more than 200 (classified as full mutation), 55 to 200 (premutation), 46 to 54 (intermediate), and 10 to 45 (normal). It is a cost-effective method that facilitates classification of the FXS and Fragile X-associated disorders with robustness and rapid reporting time.

An accurate and robust polymerase chain reaction-based assay for quantifying cytosine-guanine-guanine trinucleotide repeats in the Fragile X mental retardation-1 gene facilitates molecular diagnosis and screening of Fragile X syndrome and Fragile X-related disorders with shorter turn-around time and investment in equipment.

Un robusto teste basato sulla reazione alla catena di polimerasi per quantificare le ripetizioni di Trinucleotide della Citosina-guanina-guanina nel gene del retardation mentale Fragile X

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) and associated disorders are caused by expansion of the cytosine-guanine-guanine (CGG) trinucleotide repeat in the 5&#8217; ...

Dissection of Drosophila melanogaster Flight Muscles for Omics Approaches

Drosophila flight muscle is a powerful model to study diverse processes such as transcriptional regulation, alternative splicing, metabolism, and mechanobiology, which all influence muscle development and myofibrillogenesis. Omics data, such as those generated by mass spectrometry or deep sequencing, can provide important mechanistic insights into these biological processes. For such approaches, it is beneficial to analyze tissue-specific samples to increase both selectivity and specificity of the omics fingerprints. Here we present a protocol for dissection of fluorescent-labeled flight muscle from live pupae to generate highly enriched muscle samples for omics applications. We first describe how to dissect flight muscles at early pupal stages (&#60;48 h after puparium formation [APF]), when the muscles are discernable by green fluorescent protein (GFP) labeling. We then describe how to dissect muscles from late pupae (&#62;48 h APF) or adults, when muscles are distinguishable under a dissecting microscope. The accompanying video protocol will make these technically demanding dissections more widely accessible to the muscle and Drosophila research communities. For RNA applications, we assay the quantity and quality of RNA that can be isolated at different time points and with different approaches. We further show that Bruno1 (Bru1) is necessary for a temporal shift in myosin heavy chain (Mhc) splicing, demonstrating that dissected muscles can be used for mRNA-Seq, mass spectrometry, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) applications. This dissection protocol will help promote tissue-specific omics analyses and can be generally applied to study multiple biological aspects of myogenesis.

Dissection of Drosophila melanogaster Flight Muscles for Omics Approaches

Drosophila flight muscle is a powerful model to study transcriptional regulation, alternative splicing, metabolism, and mechanobiology. We present a protocol for dissection of fluorescent-labeled flight muscle from live pupae to generate highly enriched samples ideal for proteomics and deep-sequencing. These samples can offer important mechanistic insights into diverse aspects of muscle development.