Response of fly mutants for the metabolism of N-β-alanylderivatives to crowding stress

ROSSI, FABIANA A.; SABIO, GERMÁN A.; QUESADA-ALLUÉ, LUIS A; PÉREZ, M. M.

Potrero de Funes, San Luis

Congreso; XLVII Reunión Anual Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; 2011

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular

In Drosophila melanogaster, Ebony and Tan proteins are responsible for the synthesis and hydrolysis, respectively, of N-beta-alanylderivatives like N-beta-alanyldopamine (NBAD). Together, they establish a system that regulates dopamine (DA) and other neurotransmitter levels in insects, maintaining central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis; which is altered in null-function mutants. ebony presents reduced levels of NBAD and excess of DA; the opposite is true for tan. In Drosophila DA plays central regulatory roles controlling sleep and wakefulness. In a crowded environment, a high release of neurotransmitters occurs, so flies need to recycle DA in order to avoid potential oxidative stress in the CNS. Our aim was to compare wild type and mutants response to crowding stress. Main parameters studied were sleep patterns (recorded in activity monitors), lipid peroxidation (indicative of oxidative stress) and NBAD metabolism (indicator of DA recycling). Both ebony and tan mutant strains exhibited differences in sleep patterns. ebony flies showed a decrease in total sleeping time at night. tan showed difficulties maintaining sleep, with a decreased in the duration of sleep bouts, but an increase in their frequencies. Differences in lipid peroxidation in response to stress were observed between the strains. These results suggest a role of the Ebony-Tan system in the maintenance of CNS homeostasis.