Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
Related content
(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Overexpression of kermit/dGIPC is associated with lethality in Drosophila melanogaster

Full text
Author(s):
Pereira, G. B. [1] ; Valente, V. [1, 2] ; de Queiroz, M. S. [1] ; Vianna, M. C. B. [1] ; Paco-Larson, M. L. [1]
Total Authors: 5
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, FMRP, Dept Biol Celular & Mol & Bioagentes Patogen, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, FMRP, Dept Cirurgia & Anat, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research; v. 44, n. 4, p. 283-290, APR 2011.
Web of Science Citations: 1
Abstract

Insertional mutagenesis is an important tool for functional genomics in Drosophila melanogaster. The insertion site in the KG00562 mutant fly line has been mapped to the CG8709 (herein named DmLpin) locus and to the 3` of kermit (also called dGIPC). This mutant line presents a high lethality rate resulting from a gain of function. To obtain some insight into the biological role of the mutated locus, we have characterized the mutation and its relation to the high mortality of the KG00562 fly line. In this mutant, we did not detect one of the DmLpin transcripts, namely DmLpinK, but we did detect an unusual 2.3-kb mRNA (LpinK-w). Further investigation revealed that the LpinK-w transcript results from an aberrant splicing between the untranslated first exon of DmLpinK and the mini-white marker gene. Lack of DmLpinK or LpinK-w expression does not contribute to lethality, since heterozygous KG00562/Def7860 animals presented lethality rates comparable to those of the wild type. In contrast, the overexpression of kermit was associated with lethality of the KG00562 fly line. Significantly higher levels of kermit were detected in the Malpighian tubules of KG00562/+ flies that presented higher lethality rates than wild-type or KG00562/Def7860 animals, in which the lethality was rescued. In agreement with a recently reported study, our data support the hypothesis that misexpression of kermit/dGIPC could interfere with Drosophila development, with further investigations being needed in this direction. (AU)