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opencc-zeroDec 2017View details →

Data from: A biphasic locomotor response to acute unsignaled high temperature exposure in Drosophila.

Unsignaled stress can have profound effects on animal behavior. While most investigation of stress-effects on behavior follows chronic exposures, less is understood about acute exposures and potential after-effects. We examined walking activity in Drosophila following acute exposure to high temperature or electric shock. Compared to initial walking activity, flies first increase walking with exposure to high temperatures then have a strong reduction in activity. These effects are related to the intensity of the high temperature and number of exposures. The reduction in walking activity following high temperature and electric shock exposures survives context changes and lasts at least five hours. Reduction in the function of the biogenic amines octopamine / tyramine and serotonin both strongly blunt the increase in locomotor activity with high temperature exposure. However, neither set of biogenic amines alter the long lasting depression in walking activity after exposure.

opencc-zeroMar 2020View details →

Natural selection shapes variation in genome-wide recombination rate in Drosophila pseudoobscura

While recombination is widely recognized to be a key modulator of numerous evolutionary phenomena, we have a poor understanding of how recombination rate itself varies and evolves within a species. Here, we performed a comprehensive study of recombination rate (rate of meiotic crossing over) in two natural populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura from Utah and Arizona, USA. We used an amplicon sequencing approach to obtain high-quality genotypes in approximately 8000 individual backcrossed offspring (17 mapping populations with roughly 530 individuals each), for which we then quantified crossovers. Interestingly, variation in recombination rate within and between populations largely manifested as differences in genome-wide recombination rate rather than remodeling of the local recombination landscape. Comparing populations, we discovered individuals from the Utah population displayed on average 8% higher crossover rates than the Arizona population, a statistically significant difference. Using a QST-FST analysis, we found that this difference in crossover rate was dramatically higher than expected under neutrality, indicating that this difference may have been driven by natural selection. Finally, using a combination of short and long read whole-genome sequencing, we found no significant association between crossover rate and structural variation at the 200-400kb scale. Our results demonstrate that (1) there is abundant variation in genome-wide crossover rate in natural populations, (2) at the 200-400kb scale, recombination rate appears to vary largely genome wide, rather than in specific intervals and (3) interpopulation differences in recombination rate may be the result of local adaptation.

opencc-zeroJul 2021View details →

Heterochromatin-dependent transcription of satellite DNAs in the Drosophila melanogaster female germline

Large blocks of tandemly repeated DNAs—satellite DNAs (satDNAs)—play important roles in heterochromatin formation and chromosome segregation. We know little about how satDNAs are regulated, however their misregulation is associated with genomic instability and human diseases. We use the Drosophila melanogaster germline as a model to study the regulation of satDNA transcription and chromatin. Here we show that complex satDNAs (>100-bp repeat units) are transcribed into long noncoding RNAs and processed into piRNAs (PIWI interacting RNAs). This satDNA piRNA production depends on the Rhino-Deadlock-Cutoff complex and the transcription factor Moonshiner—a previously-described non-canonical pathway that licenses heterochromatin-dependent transcription of dual-strand piRNA clusters. We show that this pathway is important for establishing heterochromatin at satDNAs. Therefore, satDNAs are regulated by piRNAs originating from their own genomic loci. This novel mechanism of satDNA regulation provides insight into the role of piRNA pathways in heterochromatin formation and genome stability.

opencc-by-4.0Jul 2021View details →

mass spectrometry metabolomic analysis of Drosophila head extracts: 3 genotypes (control, RNAi Opa1 in muscle, RNAi Marf in muscle), 2 ages (30 days, 65 days)

RNAi of the Drosophila mitochondrial fusion genes Opa1 and Marf (Mitofusin 2) in the muscle results in an extended lifespan. In order to detect metabolic changes in lipid in the neural tissue, we analysed the metabolome of fly heads by mass spectroscopy, comparing the two knock-down genotypes to a wild type control at two ages: 30 days (young flies) and 65 days (old flies).

opencc-by-4.0Jul 2021View details →

NMR metabolomic analysis of Drosophila extracts: 3 genotypes (control, RNAi Opa1 in muscle, RNAi Marf in muscle), 3 body regions (head, thorax, abdomen), 2 ages (30 days, 65 days)

RNAi of the Drosophila mitochondrial fusion genes Opa1 and Marf (Mitofusin 2) in the muscle results in an extended lifespan. In order to unravel the metabolic changes in the long-living flies we analysed the metabolome by NMR spectroscopy, comparing the two knock-down genotypes to a wild type control at two ages: 30 days (young flies) and 65 days (old flies). In order to detect autonomous and non-autonomous changes, we also divided the samples in three anatomical regions: head (mostly neural tissue) thorax (mostly muscle), and abdomen (visceral, reproductive, metabolic control)

opencc-zeroAug 2021View details →

A shift to shorter cuticular hydrocarbons accompanies sexual isolation among Drosophila americana group populations

Because sensory signals often evolve rapidly, they could be instrumental in the emergence of reproductive isolation between species. However, pinpointing their specific contribution to isolating barriers, and the mechanisms underlying their divergence, remains challenging. Here we demonstrate sexual isolation due to divergence in chemical signals between two populations of Drosophila americana (SC and NE) and one population of D. novamexicana, and dissect its underlying phenotypic and genetic mechanisms. Mating trials revealed strong sexual isolation between Drosophila novamexicana males and SC Drosophila americana females, as well as more moderate bi-directional isolation between D. americana populations. Mating behavior data indicates SC D. americana males have the highest courtship efficiency and, unlike males of the other populations, are accepted by females of all species. Quantification of cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles—chemosensory signals that are used for species recognition and mate finding in Drosophila—shows that the SC D. americana population differs from the other populations primarily on the basis of compound carbon chain-length. Moreover, manipulation of male CHC composition via heterospecific perfuming—specifically perfuming D. novamexicana males with SC D. americana males—abolishes their sexual isolation from these D. americana females. Of a set of candidates, a single gene—elongase CG17821—had patterns of gene expression consistent with a role in CHC differences between species. Sequence comparisons indicate D. novamexicana and our Nebraska (NE) D. americana population share a derived CG17821 truncation mutation that could also contribute to their shared "short" CHC phenotype. Together, these data suggest an evolutionary model for the origin and spread of this allele and its consequences for CHC divergence and sexual isolation in this group.

opencc-zeroAug 2021View details →

Fitness consequences of biochemical adaptation in Drosophila melanogaster populations under simultaneous selection for faster pre-adult development and extended life-span

In holometabolous insect like Drosophila melanogaster, critical size is an important time point during larval life, for irreversible commitment to metamorphosis. Here, we studied the impact of restricted growth duration in terms of selection for faster pre-adult development in Drosophila melanogaster populations which resulted in the evolution of reduced critical size on adult life history traits. Selection for faster pre-adult development resulted in biochemical adaptation in larval physiology with no compromise in major biomolecules at critical size time point. The flies from the selected populations seem to not only commit to metamorphosis on the attainment of critical size but also seem to channelize resources to reproduction as indicated by similar life-time fecundity of CS and NS flies from selected populations, while the Control CS flies significantly lower life-time fecundity compared to Control NS flies. The flies from selected populations seem to achieve longevity comparable to control flies despite being significantly smaller in size- thus resource constrained due to faster pre-adult development.

opencc-by-4.0Aug 2021View details →

Exercise and Sestrin mediate speed and lysosomal activity in Drosophila by partially overlapping mechanisms-source data

Source data, Figures 1-7

opencc-by-4.0May 2016View details →

FIG. 9 in Revision of the Drosophila bromeliae Species Group (Diptera: Drosophilidae): Central American, Caribbean, and Andean Species

FIG. 9. Male genitalia of Drosophila bromeliae, continued.

Data from: Distinct genetic architectures underlie divergent thorax, leg, and wing pigmentation between Drosophila elegans and D. gunungcola

Understanding the genetic basis of species differences is a major goal in evolutionary biology. Pigmentation divergence between Drosophila species often involves genetic changes in pigmentation candidate genes that pattern the body and wings, but it remains unclear how these changes affect pigmentation evolution in multiple body parts between the same diverging species. Drosophila elegans and D. gunungcola show pigmentation differences in the thorax, legs, and wings, with D. elegans exhibiting male-specific wing spots and D. gunungcola lacking wing spots with intensely dark thoraces and legs. Here, we performed QTL mapping to identify the genetic architecture of these differences. We find a large effect QTL on the X chromosome for all three body parts. QTL on Muller Element E were found for thorax pigmentation in both backcrosses but were only marginally significant in one backcross for the legs and wings. Consistent with this observation, we isolated the effects of the Muller Element E QTL by introgressing D. gunungcola alleles into a D. elegans genetic background and found that D. gunungcola alleles linked near the pigmentation candidate gene ebony caused intense darkening of the thorax, minimal darkening of legs, and minimal shrinking of wing spots. D. elegans ebony mutants showed changes in pigmentation consistent with Ebony having different effects on pigmentation in different tissues. Our results suggest that multiple genes have evolved differential effects on pigmentation levels in different body regions.

Gene induction by natural toxins in Drosophila melanogaster

The transcriptional response of third instar Drosophila larvae to food laced with caffeine, pyrethrum oil or neem oil was assessed using Agilent 4x44K printed microarrays. Among the most notable responsive genes were those belonging to cytochrome P450 and Ecdysone-like kinase gene families.

Switch-like and persistent learning in individual Drosophila larvae

Associative learning allows animals to use past experience to predict future events. The circuits underlying memory formation support immediate and sustained changes in function, often in response to a single example. Larval Drosophila is a genetic model for memory formation that can be accessed at molecular, synaptic, cellular, and circuit levels, often simultaneously, but existing behavioral assays for larval learning and memory do not address individual animals, and it has been dicult to form long lasting memories, especially those requiring synaptic reorganization. We demonstrate a new assay for learning and memory capable of tracking the changing preferences of individual larvae. We use this assay to explore how activation of a pair of reward neurons changes the response to the innately aversive gas Carbon Dioxide (CO2). We conrm that when coupled to odor presentation in appropriate temporal sequence, optogenetic reward reduces avoidance of CO2. We nd that learning is switch-like: all-or-none and quantized in two states. Memories can be extinguished by repeated unrewarded exposure to CO2 but are stabilized against extinction by repeated training or overnight consolidation. Finally, we demonstrate long-lasting protein synthesis dependent and independent memory formation.

Relatedness modulates density-dependent cannibalism rates in Drosophila

1. Cannibalism is taxonomically widespread, and can have large impacts on individual fitness and population-level processes. As such, identifying how cannibalism rates vary in response to ecological cues is important for predicting species evolution and population dynamics. 2. In this study, we aimed to identify several eco-evolutionary factors that affect cannibalism rate and measure how they interacted with one another. 3. To do this, we conducted two experiments using complimentary methods to measure how cannibalism rates varied among larval Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans in response to changes in conspecific relatedness, social familiarity and density. 4. We found that larvae were more likely to cannibalise non-related larval victims in both species, and that this effect increased at high densities in D. simulans. We found no evidence that Drosophila larvae use social familiarity to assess relatedness. Finally, in D. melanogaster, cannibalistic larvae prefer to cannibalise larvae that are being attacked by a greater number of conspecifics, implying that cues linked to conspecific abundance encourage cooperative cannibalism. 5. By showing that cannibalism frequency in Drosophila spp. is sensitive to relatedness and several other factors, we reveal the complex relationship between cannibalism frequency and species ecology. Also, by showing that the effect of relatedness on cannibalism frequency is density-dependent, we advance the current understanding of how ecological variables interact to affect kin selection. ANALYSIS CODE IS WRITTEN IN R.

opencc-by-4.0Sep 2021View details →

Normalized NMR integration values from the metabolomic analysis of Drosophila larvae extracts from 2 genotypes at 3 time points.

We measured the metabolites related to energy production using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). No alterations in the levels of carbohydrate stores or free amino acids were found between control and Sema1ai animals, corroborating the notion that the main metabolic changes are in the lipid metabolism. The exception is the glycolytic amino acid alanine (elevated in Sema1ai animals), confirming alterations in glycolysis. The levels of the ß-alanine amino acid are markedly reduced in 256 h AEL or 10.5-day-old Sema1ai animals, probably indicating muscle degeneration in the severely obese larvae that is consistent with the deteriorated state and reduced movement of the 10-day-old (256 hours) mutant larvae. Gluconeogenesis is stimulated by high lactate, and the concentration of lactate is higher in Sema1ai larvae than controls, though the difference is not statistically significant. Glycolysis is stimulated by glucose and inhibited by citrate, an early intermediate of the citric acid cycle. The increased citrate levels in the 10.5-day-old Sema1ai larvae suggest that glycolysis is lower at this age, consistent with the increased level of glucose in the severely obese larvae. The fact that both gluconeogenesis and glycolysis pathways are simultaneously enhanced in Sema1ai larvae support the hypothesis that the animals defecting in adiposity signaling are in a state of perceived energy insufficiency despite having sufficient energy stored.

opencc-zeroOct 2021View details →

Abundance of Drosophila suzukii in the agricultural landscape

We sampled the abundance of males and females in the agricultural landscape in Slovenia. We selected 10 locations in the central part of Slovenia, five of which were closer than 200 m from the forest edge and five of which were more than 200 m from the forest edge. We collected SWD adults in three habitat types per location from the end of June until the end of October 2020. Also the actual distance is taken into account. We have two datasets in which the abundance is pooled for the whole period and one in which the sampling period is every two weeks. In the analysis of the article the number of SWD were standardized to number of SWD per 14 days.

opencc-by-4.0Oct 2021View details →

Negative regulation of IMD contributes to disease tolerance during systemic bacterial infection in Drosophila

Data and R code for Negative regulation of IMD contributes to disease tolerance during systemic bacterial infection in Drosophila

opencc-by-4.0Oct 2021View details →

Whole Brain Drosophila Larval Neurons

Example intact whole brains from female and male Drosophila larva expressing functional neuron markers associated with manuscript - Intact Drosophila Whole Brain Cellular Quantitation reveals Sexual Dimorphism.  Wei Jiao, Gard Spreemann, Evelyne Ruchti, Soumya Banerjee, Ying Shi, R. Steven Stowers, Kathryn Hess and Brian D. McCabe Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Switzerland <a href="https://mccabelab.org">https://mccabelab.org</a> See ReadMe file for detailed genotypes and methods.

opencc-by-4.0Oct 2021View details →

Whole Brain Drosophila Larval Glia

Example intact whole brains from female and male Drosophila larva expressing a glial marker associated with manuscript - Intact Drosophila Whole Brain Cellular Quantitation reveals Sexual Dimorphism.  Wei Jiao, Gard Spreemann, Evelyne Ruchti, Soumya Banerjee, Ying Shi, R. Steven Stowers, Kathryn Hess and Brian D. McCabe Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Switzerland <a href="https://mccabelab.org">https://mccabelab.org</a> See ReadMe file for detailed genotype and methods.

opencc-zeroNov 2022View details →

Selection results of two native parasitoids on the invasive spotted wing drosophila

Co-evolved natural enemies provide sustainable and long-term control of numerous invasive insect pests, but the introduction of such enemies has declined sharply due to increasing regulations. In the absence of co-evolved natural enemies, native species may attack exotic invasive pests; however, they usually lack adaptations to control novel hosts effectively. We investigated the potential of two native pupal parasitoids, Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae, and Trichopria drosophilae, to increase their developmental success on the invasive Drosophila suzukii. Replicated populations of the two parasitoids were subjected to 10 generations of laboratory selection on D. suzukii with D. melanogaster serving as the co-evolved host. We assessed the developmental success of selected and control lines in generations 0, 3, and 10. Changes in host preference, sex ratio, development time, and body size were measured to evaluate correlated responses with adaptation. Both parasitoid species responded rapidly to selection by significantly increasing their developmental success on the novel host within three generations, which remained constant for seven additional generations without further improvement. The generalist parasitoid species P. vindemmiae was able to reach similar developmental success as the control populations, while the performance of the more specialized parasitoid T. drosophilae remained lower on the novel than on the co-evolved host. There was no increase in preference towards the novel host over ten generations of selection; nor were there changes in development time or body size associated with adaptation in either parasitoid species. The sex ratio became less female-biased for both parasitoids after three generations of selection but rebounded in P. vindemmiae by generation 10. These results suggest that a few generations of selection may be sufficient to improve the performance of native parasitoids on invasive hosts, but with limits to the degree of improvement for managing invasive pests when exotic co-evolved natural enemies are unavailable.