MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Fly' source. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:20:43 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3361067&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20224294%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Morata G, Herrera SC We have generated wing disc compartments that contain marked fast growing M(+) clones surrounded by slow dividing M/+ cells. Under these conditions the interactions between fast and slow dividing cells at the clone borders frequently lead to cell competition. However, our assay suppressing apoptosis indicates that cell competition plays no major role in size control. We argue that cells within a compartment proliferate according to their genotype independently of each other and that their contribution to the final structure will depend solely on their proliferation rate. This model is supported by a computer simulation that predicts values similar to those found experimentally. Our results on the growth of M(+) clones within compartments and on the express... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3361067 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:50:06 +0100 3361067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3353984&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20215860%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brook WJ A key event in fly limb development is the binary subdivision of the cardinal axes of imaginal discs by selector genes.(1-3) As an example, all limbs are partitioned into anterior and posterior compartments through the expression of engrailed (en) in posterior cells of imaginal discs and en expression is both necessary and sufficient to direct posterior instead of default anterior development.(4-8) In the leg imaginal disc, posterior en-expressing cells secrete the ligand Hedgehog (Hh), which in turn activates ventral Wingless (Wg) expression and dorsal Decapentaplegic (Dpp) expression in domains that bisect the imaginal disc.(9,10) Dpp and Wg act in concert to specify distal fates by inducing the expression of downstream genes including the selector gene Distal-less,... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3353984 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:56:15 +0100 3353984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3353983&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20215870%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gilsohn E, Volk T The formation of complex tissues requires the assembly of distinct cell types that often migrate over long distances in order to interact with each other and establish a functional tissue. The establishment of the contractile tissue in the Drosophila embryo has been used as a model system in which to study how the interplay between distinct cell types results in a complex, functioning tissue. The Drosophila contractile tissue is composed of multi-nucleated muscle cells that are attached to individual specialized ectodermal cells, named tendon cells, at each end. The tendon cells are anchored to the cuticle external skeleton on their apical side and form integrin-dependent myotendinous junctions at their basal end. In order for the complex muscle-pattern to fo... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3353983 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:56:12 +0100 3353983 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3353982&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20215872%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jepson JE, Reenan RA In metazoan cells, transcripts that fold into double-strand RNA structures are endowed with the capacity to undergo A-to-I RNA editing, during which adenosines are catalytically deaminated to inosines by a class of enzymes known as ADARs (adenosine deaminases acting on RNA). In Drosophila, a wide range of coding mRNAs associated with signaling in the nervous system undergo A-to-I editing, and loss of editing results in extreme behavioral defects. Furthermore, there are indications that the precursors of endogenous small interfering RNAs also undergo editing. However, the mechanism by which A-to-I editing is related to ethology in Drosophila is unclear, as are the precise cell-types and developmental stages in which editing is most crucial. We have investig... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3353982 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:56:07 +0100 3353982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3186161&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20081354%26dopt%3DAbstract We reported vast differences in the molar concentrations of endogenous effectors of Hh signaling, with Smo present in limiting concentrations.(5) This extra view summarizes the implications of this endogenous ratio in relation to current models of Hh signaling and places our results in the context of recent work describing the involvement of guanine nucleotide binding protein Galphai and Cos2 motility. PMID: 20081354 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fly) Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3186161 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:42:11 +0100 3186161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3186160&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20081356%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gildor B, Massarwa R, Shilo BZ, Schejter ED In Drosophila embryos, muscle fiber formation via myoblast fusion relies on essential contributions made by the conserved Arp2/3 microfilament nucleation machinery. Two key nucleation promoting factors (NPFs), SCAR and WASp, have been shown to mediate this aspect of Arp2/3 function. We have used these unique circumstances, to study the requirements and coordination of distinct NPF activities, within a common developmental setting. Our results suggest that, although operating within close spatial and temporal proximity, the two regulators of actin polymerization are used in a step-wise manner and perform separate functional roles. Our approach also allows us to assess the involvement of the Arp2/3 machinery in formation of a distinct,... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3186160 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:42:08 +0100 3186160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3186159&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20081362%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Witsell A, Kane DP, McVey M Over the past two decades, a large collection of transposable elements inserted at various locations in the Drosophila melanogaster genome has been assembled. These transposons are frequently utilized in imprecise excision screens to generate deletions in genes of interest. In general, these screens involve genetic manipulations to combine a non-autonomous transposon and the appropriate transposase in individual male or female flies. DNA double-strand breaks are created via transposase action in both somatic and germline cells of these individuals and inaccurate repair events are recovered in the progeny. Because deletion-prone repair of transposon-induced double-strand breaks is rare, these screens generally require a significant investment of time... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3186159 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:42:06 +0100 3186159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3105317&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20009510%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Künnapuu J, Shimmi O Decapentaplegic (DPP) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 and -4 type ligands form a branch of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) superfamily. They play prominent roles in metazoan developmental processes as diverse as cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and cell-fate determination. Maturation of the BMP2/4/DPP type proteins requires proteolytic cleavage of their proproteins by furin-type proprotein convertases (PCs). Even though cleavage of the prodomain is critical for signaling, much less attention has been paid to the role of proteolytic processing. Our studies suggest that the cleavage sites of BMP2/4/DPP type proteins have been diversified and can be categorized into at least four different types. These findings indicate... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3105317 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:06:05 +0100 3105317 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3057150&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19955851%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Artieri CG, Singh RS Developmental geneticists have spearheaded the synthesis of evolutionary and developmental biology, a.k.a 'evo-devo', leading to a wealth of recent insights about how morphological diversity has evolved. However, there exists a gap between these disciplines, and evo-devo has not benefited from an integration of the principles derived from population genetics and molecular evolution. In order to contribute to the remediation of this deficiency, we recently performed a study investigating how genes diverge among closely related species of Drosophila as a function of when they are expressed during development. We found that patterns of genetic divergence parallels morphology: interspecific divergence accumulates as development progresses. We also sought to te... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3057150 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:06:04 +0100 3057150 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3031282&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19934653%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ninov N, Martín-Blanco E Although the molecular elements controlling cell cycle progression are well established, the mechanisms regulating how cell proliferation is triggered in response to extrinsic stimuli and how cell divisions change speed, particularly in stem or tumor cells or regenerative tissues, are poorly understood. One exceptional model system in which these events are precisely defined is Drosophila abdominal morphogenesis, in which stem-like histoblasts build the adult epidermis at metamorphosis by undergoing a series of sequential transitions from a non-proliferative to a growing, and finally to an invasive epithelium. We have recently uncovered in histoblasts an internal logic modulating cell cycle transitions that should constitute a reference paradigm f... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3031282 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3031282 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3015609&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19923919%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sheng XR, Matunis EL The reversal of cellular differentiation, or dedifferentiation, has fascinated biologists for many decades. While cells can be re-programmed extensively in culture, examples of in vivo dedifferentiation have recently emerged in both vertebrate and invertebrate systems, allowing for analysis of this intriguing process under more physiologically relevant conditions. Studies suggest that dedifferentiation occurs not only during large-scale cellular regeneration, but also at low levels to replenish stem cells lost due to normal turnover. Our recent paper demonstrates a novel method to induce the dedifferentiation of lineage-committed stem cell daughters back into germline stem cells (GSCs) in the Drosophila testis. We also show a requirement for activation of ... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3015609 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3015609 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2990099&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19901536%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Furukubo-Tokunaga K, Adachi Y, Kurusu M, Walldorf U The Drosophila Pax6 genes, eyeless (ey) and twin of eyeless (toy), are expressed in both eyes and the brain. Previous studies have demonstrated that ey plays important roles in axonal outgrowth and differentiation of mushroom bodies (MBs), which are centers for associative learning and memory in flies. However, the functional significance of toy in brain development is poorly understood. Here, we describe the expression patterns of TOY, and show that TOY expression partially overlaps with EY expression in the embryonic, larval and adult brains. Mutations of toy perturb brain neuromere formation in the embryonic stages, and result in severe deformation of the MB lobes in pharate adult brains. Moreover, we also analyzed toy fun... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2990099 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2990099 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2990098&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19901548%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gómez FH, Defays R, Sambucetti P, Scannapieco AC, Loeschcke V, Norry FM Starvation resistance (SR) is an important trait for survival of insects in the wild. We used recombinant inbred lines (RIL) to search for quantitative trait loci (QTL) in crosses between intercontinental inbred lines that were originally selected for heat-knockdown resistance. SR was measured as the time of survival under repeated events of starvation. SR was consistently higher in females than in males. Composite interval mapping identified one QTL region (cytological range 64D-66E2) on the left arm of chromosome 3 in males, and no QTL was found in females. Many candidate genes that were identified in previous studies of QTL for stress resistance are included within this QTL region. The QTL-allele t... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2990098 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2990098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2804740&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19755840%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Draper I, Tabaka ME, Jackson FR, Salomon RN, Kopin AS The Drosophila smooth gene encodes an RNA binding protein that has been well conserved through evolution. To investigate the pleiotropic functions mediated by the smooth gene, we have selected and characterized two sm mutants, which are viable as adults yet display robust phenotypes (including a significant decrease in lifespan). Utilizing these mutants, we have made the novel observation that disruption of the smooth/CG9218 locus leads to age-dependent muscle degeneration, and motor dysfunction. Histological characterization of adult sm mutants revealed marked abnormalities in the major thoracic tubular muscle: the tergal depressor of the trochanter (TDT). Corresponding defects include extensive loss/disruption of striatio... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2804740 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:50:04 +0100 2804740 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720116&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19690461%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Johansen J, Johansen KM A spindle matrix has long been proposed to provide structural support for counterbalancing force production and a substrate for essential mitotic factors. For years the molecular identity of such a structure remained elusive. Recently a complex of nuclear proteins that reorganize into a spindle-like structure during prophase through metaphase that shows characteristics of a spindle matrix has been identified in Drosophila. We review how these results support the concept of a spindle matrix and discuss its possible function(s) during mitosis. Importantly, these molecules also appear to play critical roles during interphase in nuclear organization and function. Given that during cell division the entire nucleus undergoes a dynamic and tightly orchestrated... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720116 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:40:04 +0100 2720116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2640038&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19625763%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zhu Y, Frye M PMID: 19625763 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fly) Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2640038 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:54:06 +0100 2640038 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2640037&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19625773%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hirano M, Neff D, Collier S The development of denticle rows on the ventral Drosophila embryo is a valuable system for studying the genetic control of epithelial patterning. During late embryogenesis, the apical surfaces of denticle-producing cells acquire a distinctive rectangular morphology with long anteroposterior boundaries, along which the denticles form, and short ventrolateral boundaries that stain strongly for adherens junction proteins. We observe that ventrolateral denticle cell boundaries are also convoluted, suggesting that the strong adherens staining results, at least in part, from the additional membrane in these regions. Embryos mutant for the Planar Cell Polarity (PCP) Effector gene multiple wing hairs (mwh), or expressing dominant negative form of the small ... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2640037 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:54:04 +0100 2640037 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2546324&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19556850%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mundiyanapurath S, Chan YB, Leung AK, Kravitz EA Previous studies in Drosophila have demonstrated that whether flies fight like males or females can be switched by selectively manipulating genes of the sex determination hierarchy in male and female nervous systems. Here we extend these studies by demonstrating that changing the sex of cholinergic neurons in male fruit fly nervous systems via expression of the transformer gene increases the levels of aggression shown by the flies without altering the way the flies fight. Transformer manipulation in this way does not change phototaxis, geotaxis, locomotion or odor avoidance of the mutant males compared to controls. Cholinergic neurons must be feminized via this route during the late larval/early pupal stages of development to sh... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2546324 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:41:06 +0100 2546324 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2546323&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19556851%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Iwasaki S, Tomari Y microRNAs (miRNAs) downregulate the expression of their target genes by inducing translational repression and/or mRNA decay. Under specific conditions, miRNAs can even activate translation of their target mRNAs. These processes occur via miRNA-protein complexes, or RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs), which contain Argonaute (Ago) subfamily protein as a core component. However, detailed mechanisms of miRNA-mediated translational regulation remain unclear. We recently reported that, in Drosophila, both of the two Ago proteins, Ago1 and Ago2, can repress translation of the target mRNAs, but by remarkably different mechanisms. Furthermore, we here show that Ago2, but not Ago1, can activate translation of the target mRNAs when they lack the poly(A) tail, su... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2546323 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:41:04 +0100 2546323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2224574&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19242103%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Farkaš R, Kováčiková M, Liszeková D, Beňo M, Daniš P, Rabinow L, Chase BA, Raška I Members of the highly conserved LAMMER family of protein kinases have been described in all eukaryotes. LAMMER kinases possess markedly similar peptide motifs in their kinase catalytic subdomains that are responsible for phosphotransfer and substrate interaction, suggesting that family members serve similar functions in widely diverged species. This hypothesis is supported by their phosphorylation of SR and SR-related proteins in diverged species. Here we describe a 3-dimensional homology model of the catalytic domain of DOA, a representative LAMMER kinase, encoded by the Drosophila locus Darkener of apricot (Doa). Homology modeling of DOA based on a ... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2224574 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 11:46:18 +0100 2224574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2224573&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19242110%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kuijper B, Morrow EH One basic condition of postmating sexual selection is that females mate more than once before fertilizing their ova. Knowledge of the frequency and extent of multiple mating in a given population or species is therefore important in order to fully understand the potential for sexual selection, in the form of sperm competition, sexual conflict and cryptic female choice. Surprisingly, there are only a handful of studies that have attempted to estimate the frequency of multiple mating in insects (including Drosophila) and none have made direct observations over extended periods of time. Here we use time-lapse photography to directly score matings in isolated pairs of D. melanogaster and show that multiple mating in the laboratory occurs at a high frequency bu... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2224573 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 11:46:12 +0100 2224573 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2224572&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19242114%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we examine the fitness consequences of immune challenge in female Drosophila melanogaster by examining both direct (within generation) and indirect (between generations) costs and benefits of immune challenge. Though passing immunity to offspring has been studied in mammals for many years, only recently have researchers found evidence for a cross-generational priming response in invertebrates. By examining both potential fitness costs and benefits in the next generation, we were able to determine what effect immune challenge has on fitness. In agreement with other studies, we found a direct cost to infection, where immune challenged females laid fewer eggs than unchallenged females in two of the three lines we examined. In addition, we found some evidence for indirect costs. ... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2224572 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 11:46:06 +0100 2224572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2224570&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19242123%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Specchia V, Bozzetti MP The crystal-Stellate system is one of the best-known examples of heterochromatin-euchromatin interaction. The components of this system are homologous repetitive sequences clustered in three regions: 12E1 and h27 on the X and h11 on the Y. The symptom of a disrupted crystal-Stellate interaction is the presence of crystals in the spermatocytes of males lacking the crystal region. Stellate silencing is based on the RNAi process. Many modifiers of this system have been isolated and many of these are involved in RNAi. One of these modifiers is aubergine(sting); this is a "gain of function" allele in somatic tissues. Here we report the different behavior of two aubergine alleles with respect to the RNAi pathway: aub(sting) and a "loss of function" heteroalle... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2224570 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 11:45:59 +0100 2224570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2130116&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19164943%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pitman JL, Dasgupta S, Krashes MJ, Leung B, Perrat PN, Waddell S A biological understanding of memory remains one of the great quests of neuroscience. For over 30 years the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has primarily been viewed as an excellent vehicle to find 'memory genes'. However, the recent advent of sophisticated genetic tools to manipulate neural activity has meant that these genes can now be viewed within the context of functioning neural circuits. A holistic understanding of memory in flies is therefore now a realistic goal. Larvae and adult flies exhibit remarkable behavioral complexity and they can both be trained in a number of ways. In this review, our intention is to summarize the many assays that have been developed to study plastic behaviors in flies. More ... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2130116 Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:25:10 +0100 2130116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2130117&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19164940%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Buch S, Pankratz MJ Physiology and behavior have historically been treated as separate subjects in the study of Drosophila. The latter is mentioned mainly in the context of neurobiology, while the former has been considered to take in studies of metabolism, cell biology and anatomy, among others. Of late, the line distinguishing physiology and behavior has become thinner, and this is exceptionally apparent in recent studies of nutrient signaling and of the regulation of feeding. This review represents a brief examination of the nexus between these intersecting fields of research in Drosophila. Other recently published reviews(1,2) serve as complements to this one. PMID: 19164940 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fly) Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2130117 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2130117 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2130114&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19164949%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zhang L, Yue T, Jiang J Initially discovered in Drosophila, the Hippo (Hpo) pathway has been recognized as a conserved signaling pathway that controls organ size during development by restricting cell growth and proliferation and by promoting apoptosis. In addition, abnormal activities of several Hpo pathway components have been implicated in human cancer. Here, we review the current understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of Hpo signaling in development and tumorigenesis, and discuss how the Hpo pathway integrates spatial and temporal signals to control tissue growth and organ size. PMID: 19164949 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fly) Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2130114 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2130114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2130118&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19164936%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bell AJ, McBride SM, Dockendorff TC Development of a drug and its safe therapeutic application necessitates using animal models for testing purposes. While testing with mammalian models is essential prior to approval for human trials, the use of invertebrate animal models that are amenable to molecular genetic manipulations provide experimental and biological advantages that can streamline the discovery and testing process. Among the benefits of a genetics-based approach is the ability to screen for genes/proteins that may be novel drug targets, and the expedited development of genetic backgrounds that more accurately reflect a specific disease state. An invertebrate model may provide a more robust phenotype for screening, a situation that may arise when there is unanticipated... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2130118 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2130118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2130115&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19164947%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tang H The melanization reaction, involving the synthesis of melanin to encapsulate pathogens, is a prominent immune response in Drosophila, the mosquito and other insects and arthropods. Biochemical studies with large insects have defined a basic model for how melanization is activated and regulated upon microbial infection. In this model, recognition of a microorganism triggers a serine protease cascade that activates phenol oxidase (PO), a key enzyme in the melanin biosynthetic pathway, and serpin-type protease inhibitors are involved in inhibiting the cascade. In the past few years, genetic studies in Drosophila have identified serine proteases and serpins that regulate activation of PO and melanization in vivo. These studies, along with molecular genetic analysis of melan... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2130115 Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2130115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2102476&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19139635%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rosenfeld JR, Desalle R, Lee EK, O'Grady P The Drosophila 12 genome data set was used to construct whole genome, gene family presence/absence matrices using a broad range of E value cutoffs as criteria for gene family inclusion. The various matrices generated behave differently in phylogenetic analyses as a function of the e-value employed. Based on an optimality criterion that maximizes internal corroboration of information, we show that values of e(-105) to e(-125) extract the most internally consistent phylogenetic signal. Functional class of most genes and gene families can be accurately determined based on the D. melanogaster genome annotation. We used the gene ontology (GO) system to create partitions based on gene function. Several measures of phylogenetic congruence (d... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2102476 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2102476 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2043244&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077541%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: McElroy JM, McLean RA, McLean JR PMID: 19077541 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fly) Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2043244 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2043244 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2043243&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077544%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rodríguez I, Baena-Lopez LA, Baonza A The function of the conserved Drosophila Hippo signaling pathway has been shown to be required to limit cell proliferation. Several studies have identified different target genes of this pathway that could modulate this function. However, the ectopic expression of these genes cannot account for all of the hyperplasic and pattern defects displayed by Hippo signaling mutants. We have recently identified two new targets of the Hippo pathway, the heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) encoded by division abnormally delayed (dally) and dally-like protein (dlp). The function of these glypicans is required to modulate the activity of different signaling pathways triggered by diffusible ligands. Thus, our results link the function of the Hippo... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2043243 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2043243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1993810&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19029797%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vanzomeren-Dohm A, Flannery E, Duman-Scheel M Protocols for both generation of mosaic clones and whole-mount in situ hybridization detection of mRNA have led to an advanced understanding of Drosophila development. A simple means of combining these techniques for staining of imaginal discs would be useful, as it would allow for analysis of mRNA transcripts in marked mosaic clones. However, few researchers attempt such experiments due to the technical difficulty of simultaneously detecting clones and mRNA transcripts. Furthermore, maintaining the ability to use GFP-marked clones is desirable. However, typical Drosophila in situ hybridization protocols result in loss of GFP fluorescence. The method for double labeling of imaginal discs described here maintains the ability to iden... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1993810 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1993810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818955&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18806473%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sheeley SL, McAllister BF Similar outcomes are often observed in species exposed to similar selective regimes, but it is unclear how often the same mechanism of adaptive evolution is followed. Here we present an analysis of selection affecting sequence variation in the Alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) gene of Drosophila americana, a species endemic to a large climate range that has been colonized by D. melanogaster. Unlike D. melanogaster, there is no evidence of selection on allozymes of ADH across the sampled range. This indicates that if there has been a similar adaptive response to climate in D. americana, it is not within the coding region of Adh. Instead, analyses of a combined dataset containing 86 alleles of Adh reveal purifying selection on the Adh gene, especially within ... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818955 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:50:26 +0100 1818955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1757544&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18719407%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Park Y, Zhang Z, Linhardt RJ, Lemosy EK Spatial information embedded in the extracellular matrix establishes the dorsoventral polarity of the Drosophila embryo through the ventral activity of a serine protease cascade. Pipe is a Golgi-localized protein responsible for generating this spatial information during oogenesis through sulfation of unknown glycans. Although Pipe has sequence homology to glycosaminoglycan 2-O-sulfotransferases, its activity and authentic substrates have not been demonstrated and genetic evidence has argued against a role for glycosaminoglycans in dorsoventral polarity establishment. Here, direct examination of matrix glycosaminoglycans demonstrates that pipe-mutant matrix shows decreased tri-sulfated heparan sulfate compared to wild-type matrix, with c... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1757544 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1757544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1757546&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18719405%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kyriakakis P, Tipping M, Abed L, Veraksa A Tandem affinity purification (TAP) has been widely used for the analysis of protein complexes. We investigated the parameters of the recently developed TAP method (GS-TAP) and its application in Drosophila. This new tag combination includes two Protein G modules and a streptavidin binding peptide (SBP), separated by one or two TEV protease cleavage sites. We made pMK33-based GS-TAP vectors to allow for generation of stable cell lines using hygromycin selection and inducible expression from a metallothionein promoter, as well as pUAST-based vectors that can be used for inducible expression in flies. Rescue experiments in flies demonstrated that the GS-TAP tag preserves the function of the tagged protein. We have done parallel purificat... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1757546 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1757546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1757548&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18719403%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bannan BA, Van Etten J, Kohler JA, Tsoi Y, Hansen NM, Sigmon S, Fowler E, Buff H, Williams TS, Ault JG, Glaser RL, Korey CA Palmitoylation is the post-translational addition of a palmitate moiety to a cysteine residue through a covalent thioester bond. The addition and removal of this modification is controlled by both palmitoyl acyl-transferases and thioesterases. Using bioinformatic analysis, we identified 22 DHHC family palmitoyl acyl-transferase homologs in the Drosophila genome. We used in situ hybridization, RT-PCR, and published FlyAtlas microarray data to characterize the expression patterns of all 22 fly homologs. Our results indicate that all are expressed genes, but several, including CG1407, CG4676, CG5620, CG6017/dHIP14, CG6618, CG6627 and CG17257 appear to be enr... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1757548 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1757548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1757545&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18719406%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Parkash R, Kalra B, Sharma V We investigated within as well as between population variability in desiccation resistance, cuticular lipid mass per fly and cuticular water loss in nine geographical populations of a tropical drosophilid, Zaprionus indianus. Interestingly, the amount of cuticular lipids and desiccation resistance in this non-melanic species are significantly higher as compared with melanic Drosophila melanogaster. On the basis of isofemale line analysis, within population trait variability in cuticular lipid mass per fly is positively correlated with desiccation resistance and negatively correlated with cuticular water loss but show lack of correlation with body size. We observed geographical variation in the amount of cuticular lipid mass per fly in Zaprionus ind... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1757545 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1757545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1757547&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18719404%26dopt%3DAbstract This study demonstrates that mutation of the drd gene CG33968 results in a complex phenotype affecting multiple physiological systems within the fly. PMID: 18719404 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fly) Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1757547 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1757547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1757559&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18504507%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Akbari OS, Schiller BJ, Goetz SE, Ho MC, Bae E, Drewell RA At the Drosophila bithorax complex many distinct classes of cis-regulatory modules work collectively during development to control gene expression. Abdominal-B (Abd-B) is one of three homeotic genes in the BX-C and is expressed in specific presumptive abdominal segments in the embryo. The transcription of Abd-B is tightly controlled by an array of cis-regulatory modules that direct its expression over extended genomic distances. These regulatory modules include promoters, insulators, silencers, enhancers, promoter targeting sequences and the recently identified promoter tethering element (PTE). To activate gene expression at the endogenous complex, enhancers located >50 kb away must bypass intervening insulators to ... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1757559 Sat, 01 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1757559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1757558&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18618020%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wiggins BL, Malik HS Increased size of eukaryotic genomes necessitated the use of multiple origins of DNA replication, and presumably selected for their efficient spacing to ensure rapid DNA replication. The sequence of these origins remains undetermined in metazoan genomes, leaving important questions about the selective constraints acting on replication origins unanswered. We have chosen to study the evolution of proteins that recognize and define these origins every cell cycle, as a surrogate to the direct analysis of replication origins. Among these DNA replication proteins is the essential Cdc6 protein, which acts to license origins for replication. We find that two different species pairs of Drosophila show evidence of positive selection in Cdc6 in their highly conserved... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1757558 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 1757558 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1757557&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18682693%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fischer JA PMID: 18682693 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fly) Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1757557 Tue, 13 Feb 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1757557 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1757556&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18690057%26dopt%3DAbstract We report here as a cautionary note that these vectors on their own can drive reporter gene expression in the larval and pupal salivary gland. PMID: 18690057 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Fly) Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1757556 Mon, 01 Jan 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1757556 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1757555&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18690058%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Riedl CA, Riedl M, Mackay TF, Sokolowski MB Drosophila melanogaster pupae are exposed to many biotic and abiotic dangers while immobilized during several days of metamorphosis. As a passive defense mechanism, appropriate pupation site selection represents an important mitigation of these threats. Pupation site selection is sensitive to genetic and environmental influences, but the specific mechanisms of the behavior are largely unknown. Using a set of 76 recombinant inbred strains we identify a single quantitative trait locus, at polytene position 56A01-C11, associated with pupation site variation. We furthermore present a detailed investigation into the wandering behaviors of two strains expressing different pupation position tendencies, and identify behavioral differences. L... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1757555 Mon, 01 Jan 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1757555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1757554&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18690059%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kelleher ES, Markow TA The process of speciation requires the development of isolating mechanisms that act as barriers to gene flow between incipient species. Such mechanisms can occur at three different levels: precopulatory or behavioral isolation, postcopulatory-prezygotic isolation occurring in the female reproductive tract, or postzygotic isolation resulting in hybrid sterility or inviability. Only by extensively studying all three types of barriers in young species pairs can we begin to understand the evolution of early reproductive incompatibilities, which may be important to the speciation process. Although precopulatory and postzygotic isolation have been well described it is only recently that the female reproductive tract has been intensely examined for possible mec... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1757554 Mon, 01 Jan 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1757554 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1757553&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18690060%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Haigh AJ, Lloyd VK Since the birth of the first cloned sheep in 1996, advances in nuclear transplantation have led to both the creation of genetically tailored stem cells and the generation of a number of cloned organisms. The list of cloned animals reared to adulthood currently includes the frog, sheep, mouse, cow, goat, pig, rabbit, cat, zebrafish, mule, horse, rat and dog. The addition of Drosophila to this elite bestiary of cloned animals has prompted the question - why clone flies? Organisms generated by nuclear transplantation suffer from a high rate of associated defects, and many of these defects appear to be related to aberrant genomic imprinting. Imprinted gene expression also appears to be compromised in Drosophila clones. Proper imprinted gene regulation relies on ... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1757553 Mon, 01 Jan 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1757553 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1757552&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18690061%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gregory SL, Shandala T, O'Keefe L, Jones L, Murray MJ, Saint R To identify genes that modulate Rho signalling during cytokinesis we tested the effect of overexpressing a set of 2190 genes on an eye phenotype caused by defective Rho activation. The resulting 112 modifier loci fell into three main classes: cell cycle genes, signalling effectors and metabolic enzymes. We developed a further series of genetic tests to refine the interactors into those most likely to modify Rho signalling during cytokinesis. In addition to a number of genes previously implicated in the Rho pathway during cytokinesis, we identified four novel primary candidates: cdc14, Pitslre, PDK1 and thread/diap1. cdc14 orthologs have, however, been implicated in cytokinesis in other organisms, as have molecules ... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1757552 Mon, 01 Jan 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1757552 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1757551&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18690062%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tountas NA, Fortini ME PMID: 18690062 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Fly) Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1757551 Mon, 01 Jan 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1757551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1757550&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18690063%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Aldridge AC, Benson LP, Siegenthaler MM, Whigham BT, Stowers RS, Hales KG Mitochondria undergo dramatic rearrangement during Drosophila spermatogenesis. In wild type testes, the many small mitochondria present in pre-meiotic spermatocytes later aggregate, fuse, and interwrap in post-meiotic haploid spermatids to form the spherical Nebenkern, whose two giant mitochondrial compartments later unfurl and elongate beside the growing flagellar axoneme. Drp1 encodes a dynamin-related protein whose homologs in many organisms mediate mitochondrial fission and whose Drosophila homolog is known to govern mitochondrial morphology in neurons. The milton gene encodes an adaptor protein that links mitochondria with kinesin and that is required for mitochondrial transport in Drosophila neuron... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1757550 Mon, 01 Jan 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1757550 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1757549&cid=s_37893_62_f&fid=37893&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18705022%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Perrimon N, Mathey-Prevot B Recently, the issue of off-target effects (OTEs) associated with long double stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) used in RNAi screens, such as those performed at the Drosophila RNAi Screening Center and other laboratories, has become a focus of great interest and some concern. Although OTEs have been recognized as an important source of false positives in mammalian studies (where short siRNAs are used as triggers), they were generally thought to be inconsequential in Drosophila RNAi experiments because of the use of long dsRNAs. Two recent papers have disputed this contention and show that significant off-target effects can take place with the use of some long dsRNAs in Drosophila cells. Together, these studies provide evidence that OTEs mediated by short homolo... Fly journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1757549 Mon, 01 Jan 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1757549