Molecular cloning and characterization of Drosophila ornithine aminotransferase gene

Comprehensive insights into the impact of bacterial indole-3-acetic acid on sensory preferences in Drosophila melanogaster

Several bacteria of environmental and clinical origins, including some human-associated strains secrete a cross-kingdom signaling molecule indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). IAA is a tryptophan (trp) derivative mainly known for regulating plant growth and development as a hormone. However, the nutritional sources that boost IAA secretion in bacteria and the impact of secreted IAA on non-plant eukaryotic hosts remained less explored. Here, we demonstrate significant trp-dependent IAA production in Pseudomonas juntendi NEEL19 when provided with ethanol as a carbon source in liquid cultures. IAA was further characterized to modulate the odor discrimination, motility and survivability in Drosophila melanogaster. A detailed analysis of IAA-fed fly brain proteome using high-resolution mass spectrometry showed significant (fold change, ± 2; p ≤ 0.05) alteration in the proteins governing neuromuscular features, audio-visual perception and energy metabolism as compared to IAA-unfed controls. Sex-wise variations in differentially regulated proteins were witnessed despite having similar visible changes in chemo perception and psychomotor responses in IAA-fed flies. This study not only revealed ethanol-specific enhancement in trp-dependent IAA production in P. juntendi, but also showed marked behavioral alterations in flies for which variations in an array of proteins governing odor discrimination, psychomotor responses, and energy metabolism are held responsible. Our study provided novel insights into disruptive attributes of bacterial IAA that can potentially influence the eukaryotic gut-brain axis having broad environmental and clinical implications.

Disproportionate investment in Spiralin B production limits in-host growth and favors the vertical transmission of Spiroplasma insect endosymbionts

Insects frequently harbor endosymbionts, which are bacteria housed within host tissues. These associations are stably maintained over evolutionary timescales through vertical transmission of endosymbionts from host mothers to their offspring. Some endosymbionts manipulate host reproduction to facilitate spread within natural populations. Consequently, such infections have major impacts on insect physiology and evolution. However, technical hurdles have limited our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying such insect-endosymbiont interactions. Here, we investigate the nutritional interactions between endosymbiotic partners using the tractable insect Drosophila melanogaster and its natural endosymbiont Spiroplasma poulsonii. Using a combination of functional assays, metabolomics, and proteomics, we show that the abundance and amino acid composition of a single Spiroplasma membrane lectin, Spiralin B (SpiB), dictates the amino acid requirements of the endosymbiont and determines its proliferation within host tissues. Ectopically increasing SpiB levels in host tissues disrupts localization of endosymbionts in the fly egg chambers and decreases vertical transmission. We find that SpiB is likely to be required by the endosymbiont to enter host oocytes, which may explain the massive investment of S. poulsonii in SpiB synthesis. SpiB both permits vertical transmission of the symbiont and limits its growth in nutrient-limiting conditions for the host; therefore, a single protein plays a pivotal role in ensuring durability of the interaction in a variable environment.

Evolutionary compromises to metabolic toxins: Ammonia and urea tolerance in Drosophila suzukii and Drosophila melanogaster

The invasive pest Drosophila suzukii has evolved morphological and behavioural adaptations to lay eggs under the skin of fresh fruits. This results in severe damage to a wide range of small fruits. Drosophila suzukii females typically lay few eggs per fruit, preferring healthy fruits. Hence, larvae are exposed to a reduced amount of nitrogenous waste. Differently, the innocuous Drosophila melanogaster lays eggs on fermented fruits already infested by conspecifics, with larvae developing in a crowded environment with the accumulation of nitrogenous waste such as ammonia and urea. These compounds derive from nitrogen metabolism, protein degradation, and amino acids catabolism and are relatively toxic at high concentrations in an organism. The observed differences in oviposition site and larval ecological niche suggest that these species might differ in behavioural and physiological mechanisms used to cope with nitrogenous waste. We investigated how different concentrations of ammonia and urea affect oviposition and larval development in both species. Females and larvae of D. suzukii showed greater susceptibility to high concentrations of both compounds, with a dramatic decrease in the number of eggs laid and egg viability. Moreover, we tested the chemotactic response of third instar larvae to high concentrations of the compounds. Interestingly, ammonia resulted in a repulsive behaviour in respect of the control and urea groups. To better understand the pathways underlying these differences, we evaluated the effect on ornithine aminotransferase and glutathione-S-transferase, two enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism and stress response that are expressed during larval development. Both ammonia and urea significantly reduced the expression of these enzymes in D. suzukii compared to D. melanogaster. This shows how the ecological shift of D. suzukii to fresh fruit is accompanied by less efficient detoxifying and excretory mechanisms, with important implications for evolutionary biology and applied research. Our data suggest that the ecological shift of D. suzukii to fresh fruit as oviposition substrate is accompanied by a reduced tolerance to metabolic toxins during larval development.

Representational Difference Analysis (RDA) reveals differential expression of conserved as well as novel genes during caste-specific development of the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) ovary

In highly eusocial insects, such as the honey bee, Apis mellifera, the reproductive bias has become embedded in morphological caste differences. These are most expressively denoted in ovary size, with adult queens having large ovaries consisting of 150-200 ovarioles each, while workers typically have only 1-20 ovarioles per ovary. This morphological differentiation is a result of hormonal signals triggered by the diet change in the third larval instar, which eventually generate caste-specific gene expression patterns. To reveal these we produced differential gene expression libraries by Representational Difference Analysis (RDA) for queen and worker ovaries in a developmental stage when cell death is a prominent feature in the ovarioles of workers, whereas all ovarioles are maintained and extend in length in queens. In the queen library, 48% of the gene set represented homologs of known Drosophila genes, whereas in the worker ovary, the largest set (59%) were ESTs evidencing novel genes, not even computationally predicted in the honey bee genome. Differential expression was confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR for a selected gene set, denoting major differences for two queen and two worker library genes. These included two unpredicted genes located in chromosome 11 (Group11.35 and Group11.31, respectively) possibly representing long non-coding RNAs. Being candidates as modulators of ovary development, their expression and functional analysis should be a focal point for future studies.

Ornithine delta-aminotransferase: An enzyme implicated in salt tolerance in higher plants

This review deals with biochemical and physiological aspects of plant ornithine d-aminotransferase (OAT, EC 2.6.1.13). OAT is a mitochondrial enzyme containing pyridoxal-5'-phosphate as a cofactor, which catalyzes the conversion of L-ornithine to L-glutamate gamma-semialdehyde using 2-oxoglutarate as a terminal amino group acceptor. It has been described in humans, animals, insects, plants and microorganisms. Based on the crystal structure of human OAT, both substrate binding and reaction mechanism of the enzyme are well understood. OAT shows a large structural and mechanistic similarity to other enzymes from the subgroup III of aminotransferases, which transfer an amino group from a carbon atom that does not carry a carboxyl function. In plants, the enzyme has been implicated in proline biosynthesis and accumulation (via pyrroline-5-carboxylate), which represents a way to regulate cellular osmolarity in response to osmotic stress. However, the exact metabolic pathway involving OAT remains a subject of controversy.

Vitamin B6-Responsive Ornithine Aminotransferase Deficiency with a Novel Mutation G237D

Ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) deficiency (MIM: 258870) is a rare congenital metabolic disorder characterized by gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina. Here, we report a 37-year-old male with gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina who has been treated for 18 years. At the age of 7 years, the patient consulted an ophthalmologist due to progressive loss of vision. A large atrophied area was observed in his retina, and OAT deficiency was suspected. At the age of 19 years, amino acid analysis revealed high serum ornithine levels (1,140 nmol/ml), with the normal range being 40-100 nmol/ml. He was treated with vitamin B(6) 300 mg/day for 6 months, which successfully reduced his serum ornithine levels by 20-30%. For 18 years since, his serum ornithine levels have been maintained with vitamin B(6) medication. There was no further impairment of vision or increase in the atrophied area, as judged by ophthalmoscopic examination. OAT activity was undetected in white blood cells of the patient and was 105% and 45% of normal values in his wife and son, respectively. OAT gene analysis revealed a novel mutation of Gly237Asp in exon 7 (710G > A) in both alleles of the patient, while his son was a heterozygote for the mutation. Notably, this novel mutation is associated with a vitamin B6-responsive phenotype. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment with vitamin B(6) may prevent loss of vision in some patients with OAT deficiency.