Pheromone in Drosophila

Manhasset Science Research

Rachel Lii

Need

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsMalariaSurveillance/dsMalariaSurveillance_450px.gif

Figure 1:The total cases of Malaria by State in the U.S in 2007.

Knowledge Base

Figure 2: X-ray Crystal Structure of LUSH-cVA complex. The VA is completely enveloped within the protein.

http://www.uccc.info/for-healthcare-professional/cancer-center/cores/structural-biology/structural-biology.aspx

A) Orienting

Literature ReviewB) Tapping

C) Singing/ waving and wing vibrationD) Licking

E) Attempting

F) Copulation

http://www.springerlink.com/content/eq0711q8445h3w40/fulltext.pdf

Literature Review

• (Smith, 2006) Odorant binding proteins are extracellular proteins localized to the chemosensory systems of most terrestrial (belonging to land) species.

Literature Review

• (Smith et al, 2005) OBP lush is completely devoid (lacking of something) of evoked (cause reaction) activity to the pheromone 11-cis vaccenyl acetate (cVA), reveals a binding protein is absolutely required for activation of pheromone sensitive chemosensory neurons.

Purpose

• Pest insects have a huge impact on agriculture and human health.

• Since Drosophila are similar to mosquitoes, using the pheromone baiting technique with LUSH pheromone.

Hypothesis

ALTERNATE HYPOTHESIS: When the Mutant lush drosophila are in the presence of the pheromone they will not have a response, or they will not have a strong response to the pheromone. However, when the regular drosophila are in the presence of the pheromone, they will have a stronger reaction to it.

NULL HYPOTHESIS: When both the mutant and the regular drosophila are within the presence of the pheromone there will be no significant reaction.

MethodologyDrosophila melanogaster

Mutant Drosophila

Data will be analyzed using SPSS and Scheffe-post-hoc test.

Regular Drosophila

Group 1N=20

Placed in oviposition trap

Group 2N=20

Group 3N=20

Group 6N=20

Group 4N=20

Group 5N=20

Group 7N=20

Group 8N=20

1 µl of Acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide inserted into the food

1.5 µl of Acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide inserted into the food

2.5 µl of Acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide inserted into the food

2 µl of Acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide inserted into the food

Protocols For Measurement

• The trap BR-OVT (is composed of a simple black plastic box (13 x 35 x 24 cm) with a central window (16 x 9 cm) on the top surface

• The least harmful to the flies is either carbon dioxide or cooling anesthetizing

Do-Ability

• BR-OVT are easy to construct

• Drosophila are easy to keep alive

Budget

Bibliography

• Department of Pharmacology and Center for Basic Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9111, USA

• Ha, Tal Soo, and Dean P. Smith. "A Pheromone Receptor Mediates 11-cis-Vaccenyl Acetate Induced Responces in Drosophila." The Journal Of Neuroscience (2006): 8727-733.

• Jin, Xin, Tal Soo Ha, and Dean P. Smith. "PNAS." SNMP is a signaling component required for Pheromone Sensitivity in Drosophila 31st ser. 105 (Ausgust 5, 2008): 10996-1001.

• "Pheromone." McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology. 8th ed. 13 vols. Mechanicsburg: McGraw-Hill, 1997. 397-98.

• Smith, Dean P. "Odor and Pheromone detection in Drosophila melanogaster." Pflugers Arch-Eur J Physiol (2007): 749-58.

• University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center At Dallas. "Researchers Find How Protein Allows Insects To Detect And Respond To Pheromones." ScienceDaily 27 January 2005. 4 May 2009 <http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2005/01/050124005139.htm>.

• UT Southwestern Medical Center. "Unique Pheromone Detection System Uncovered." ScienceDaily 27 June 2008. 29 April 2009 <http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2008/06/080626125825.htm>.

• Xu P-X, Atkinson R, Jones DNM, Smith DP (2005) Drosophila OBP LUSH is required for activity of pheromone sensitive neurons. Neuron 45:193-200