Spaceflight-related suboptimal conditions can accentuate the altered gravity response of Drosophila transcriptome.
Genome-wide transcriptional profiling shows that reducing gravity levels during Drosophila metamorphosis in the International Space Station (ISS) causes important alterations in gene expression: a large set of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are observed compared to 1g controls. However, the preparation procedures for spaceflight and the nonideal environmental conditions on board the ISS subject the organisms to additional environmental stresses that demonstrably affect gene expression. Simulated microgravity experiments performed on the ground, under ideal conditions for the flies, using the random position machine (RPM), show much more subtle effects on gene expression. However, when the ground experiments are repeated under conditions designed to reproduce the additional environmental stresses imposed by spaceflight procedures, 79% of the DEGs detected in the ISS are reproduced by the RPM experiment. Gene ontology analysis of them shows they are genes that affect respiratory activity, developmental processes and stress-related changes. Here, we analyse the effects of microgravity on gene expression in relation to the environmental stresses imposed by spaceflight. Analysis using 'gene expression dynamics inspector' (GEDI) self-organizing maps reveals a subtle response of the transcriptome to microgravity. Remarkably, hypergravity simulation induces similar response of the transcriptome, but in the opposite direction, i.e. the genes promoted under microgravity are usually suppressed under hypergravity. These results suggest that the transcriptome is finely tuned to normal gravity and that microgravity, together with environmental constraints associated with space experiments, can have profound effects on gene expression.
Herranz
Raul
R
Departamento de Bioquímica & Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas 'Alberto Sols' (UAM-CSIC), C/Arzobispo Morcillo, 4 Madrid, 28029 SpainCentro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, E-28040, Madrid, SpainCentro Nacional de Biotecnología (UAM-CSIC), Madrid, SpainGenomics Unit. Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, C/Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3. Madrid, SpainGSBMS, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, FranceDutch Experiment Support Center, DESC at OCB-ACTA, VU-University and Univ. of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Benguría
Alberto
A
Laván
David A
DA
López-Vidriero
Irene
I
Gasset
Gilbert
G
Javier Medina
F
F
van Loon
Jack J W A
JJ
Marco
Roberto
R
D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018471:Hypergravity; D013026:Space Flight; D059467:Transcriptome; D014893:Weightlessness