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Circadian Susceptibility to Pyrethroids in Female Drosophila melanogaster. By David Chin. Mentor: Dr. Jadwiga Giebultowicz. Relevance for Research. How fruit flies metabolize toxins may be: Different between males and females Related to how humans metabolize toxins via circadian rhythms
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Circadian Susceptibility to Pyrethroids in Female Drosophila melanogaster By David Chin Mentor: Dr. Jadwiga Giebultowicz
Relevance for Research • How fruit flies metabolize toxins may be: • Different between males and females • Related to how humans metabolize toxins via circadian rhythms • These links may open up new inquiries in pharmaceuticals, horticulture, and global economics
Circadian Rhythms • Internal clocks that control when organisms rest and remain active • I.e. Jet lag… … … • Controlled by the Period and Tim genes http://edfredned.com/images/portfolio/Full/jetlag.gif
Circadian Clocks (cont.) http://www.ou.edu/wanglab/Circadianclock1/Slide1.jpg
Circadian Rhythms (cont.) • Physiologically, they influence: • Hormone secretion • Oxygen consumption • Metabolism • Other functions of the body
Point of Interest • Circadian rhythms may influence the rate of metabolism of many substances, including toxins • The pyrethroid, deltamethrin, is administered to the female flies to investigate how they metabolize toxins in relation to the presence and absence of the circadian rhythm
Pyrethroids • Synthetic insecticides derived from the flowers of pyrethrums or several plants from the genus Chrysanthemum http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Chrysanthemums.jpg
Deltamethrin • Deltamethrin is a pyrethroid insecticide that damages the nervous system, paralyzing the organisms after cuticular penetration or oral uptake of the neurotoxin C22H19Br2NO3 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Deltamethrin-3D-balls-2.png
Deltamethrin (cont.) • Modifies the membrane function proteins and keeps the voltage-dependent sodium channels continuously open
Flies Being Tested • CS Flies = Wild type flies with Period & Tim genes • Per-null Flies = Mutant flies that lack the Period gene expressions • Csp Flies = Backcrossed flies that express the Period & Tim genes and are closely related to the Per-null flies
Experiments • Dose Response • Two Hour Interval Test • GST Assay • Glutathione S-Transferases take part in metabolizing toxins
Mass Ratio Data • Average mass of female = 1.409 mg • Average mass of male = 0.8103 mg
Future Investigations • I will continue working on investigating direct toxin applications and GST assays throughout the 2007-2008 school year at Oregon State University
Acknowledgements • Howard Hughes Medical Institute • URISC • Dr. Kevin Ahern • Dr. Jadwiga Giebultowicz • Everyone in the lab