Genome Biology volume 4 , Article number: R8 Cite this article. Metrics details. A P-type transposable element called PdL has been engineered with a doxycycline-inducible promoter directed out through the 3' end of the element.
Insertion of PdL near the 5' end of a gene often yields doxycycline-dependent overexpression of that gene and a mutant phenotype. This functional genomics strategy allows for efficient screening of large numbers of genes for overexpression phenotypes.
PdL was mobilized to around 10, new locations in the Drosophila melanogaster genome and used to search for genes that would extend life span when overexpressed. The mutations were molecularly characterized and in each case a gene was found to be overexpressed using northern blots.
Three PdL mutations identified previously characterized genes: filamin encodes the homolog of an actin-polymerizing protein that interacts with presenilins. Finally, an apparently novel gene Red herring, Rdh was found in the first intron of the encore gene. Screening for conditional mutations that increase Drosophila life span has identified genes implicated in membrane transport, phospholipid metabolism and signaling, and actin cytoskeleton organization.
Drosophila melanogaster has been a leading model for the study of aging for over 80 years [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. The intensive use of Drosophila as a model for developmental biology has produced a wealth of genetic and molecular biological tools that are readily adapted to the study of aging. Aging is associated with characteristic changes at the physiological and molecular level, however organismal life span is still the best measure of aging rate.
