Stress resistance conferred by neuronal expression of dominant-negative Rac in adult Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract

How does brain coordinate physiological and behavioral responses to achieve survival in adverse environment is intriguing yet complicated. During studies of the small G protein Rac's role in learning and memory, the authors unexpectedly observed that neuronal expression of dominant-negative Rac in adult Drosophila remarkably enhanced the survival of animals in various stress conditions, including oxidation, desiccation, starvation, and heat. The elevated stress resistance was not accompanied by a reduction in female fecundity or a change in whole-body lipid storage. The observation therefore implies the involvement of small G protein Rac in neuronal regulation of global stress responses.

• Authors: Yichun Shuai, Yisi Zhang, Liwen Gao, Yi Zhong
• Journal: Journal of neurogenetics (J Neurogenet) Vol. 25 Issue 1-2 Pg. 35-9 (Mar 2011) ISSN: 1563-5260 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21563892 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Drosophila Proteins
• Herbicides
• Triglycerides
• rac GTP-Binding Proteins
• Paraquat

Topics

• Adaptation, Physiological (physiology)
• Animals
• Desiccation (methods)
• Drosophila Proteins (metabolism)
• Drosophila melanogaster
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation (physiology)
• Heat Stress Disorders (metabolism)
• Herbicides (pharmacology)
• Longevity (physiology)
• Male
• Neurons (metabolism)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects, genetics)
• Paraquat (pharmacology)
• Starvation (genetics, physiopathology)
• Stress, Physiological (physiology)
• Temperature
• Triglycerides (metabolism)
• rac GTP-Binding Proteins (genetics, metabolism)