title: Lack of robustness of life extension associated with several single-gene P element mutations in Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: The hypothesis tested in this study was that single-gene mutations found previously to extend the life span of Drosophila melanogaster could do so consistently in both long-lived y w and standard w (1118) genetic backgrounds. GAL4 drivers were used to express upstream activation sequence (UAS)-responder transgenes globally or in the nervous system. Transgenes associated with oxidative damage prevention (UAS-hSOD1 and UAS-GCLc) or removal (EP-UAS-Atg8a and UAS-dTOR (FRB) ) failed to increase mean life spans in any expression pattern in either genetic background. Flies containing a UAS-EGFP-bMSRA (C) transgene associated with protein repair were found not to exhibit life extension or detectable enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) activity. The presence of UAS-responder transgenes was confirmed by PCR amplification and sequencing at the 5' and 3' end of each insertion. These results cast doubt on the robustness of life extension in flies carrying single-gene mutations and suggest that the effects of all such mutations should be tested independently in multiple genetic backgrounds and laboratory environments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Alabama, HAHN 4025, 5721 USA Drive N, Mobile, AL 36688. mockett@southalabama.edu.
authors.forename: Robin J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mockett
authors.forename: Amber C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Nobles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D017344:Genes, Insect; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051150:Methionine Sulfoxide Reductases / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C527373:Atg8a protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C557617:GAL4 protein, Drosophila; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; C076187:gcl protein, Drosophila; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1; D051150:Methionine Sulfoxide Reductases; C027219:methionine sulfoxide reductase; C416303:target of rapamycin protein, Drosophila; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
keywords: Drosophila; Longevity; Oxidation; Transgenes