PgmNr D1431: The genetic basis of the energy budget in Drosophila melanogaster on different diets.

Authors:
A. M. Perinchery; P. Stanley; S. Winingear; H. Kleiboeker; E. G. King


Institutes
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.


Keyword: genotype-by-environment interaction

Abstract:

Organisms need to adapt to dynamic environments over time. An organism consumes and stores a finite amount of resources that are used for all daily tasks. In order to survive and thrive, they must allocate these finite resources to different life history traits like reproduction or somatic growth. We used the genetic mapping population, the Drosophila Synthetic Population Resource (DSPR), to map the genetic loci responsible for carbohydrate, lipid and protein storage on different diets in Drosophila melanogaster. We crossed ~250 Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) to a standard inbred line. The adult offspring of these crosses were placed onto one of three diets for 10 days: a high sugar, low yeast or control diet. We then used biochemical assays to measure the total energy budget: lipid, carbohydrate and protein content on the same set of flies. Lastly, QTL analysis was performed to identify possible genetic loci responsible for storage of these different components on different diets.