title: Methods for studying the biological consequences of endo-siRNA deficiency in Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: Endogenous small interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs) are a newly emerged class of small regulatory RNAs. In Drosophila melanogaster, the production of endo-siRNAs depends on the RNase III enzyme Dicer-2 (Dcr-2). Loss of dcr-2 function reduces the resistance of adult flies to various stresses and shortens their life span. The mutants also exhibit alterations in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. These findings suggest that the endo-siRNA pathway plays a protective role during exposure to stress and aging in D. melanogaster, possibly by regulating metabolic homeostasis. Here, we describe the methods that were used to discover the phenotypes associated with endo-siRNA deficiency by using dcr-2 null mutants.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 136-713, South Korea.
authors.forename: Do-Hwan
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Chun-Taek
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Sung-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Young Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003080:Cold Temperature; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D059865:Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008136:Longevity; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism*; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014280:Triglycerides; C478069:DCR-2 protein, Drosophila; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D020365:RNA Helicases; D005947:Glucose