Work

Bacterial Methionine Metabolism Genes Influence Drosophila melanogaster Starvation Resistance

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Extending descriptive studies of animal-associated microorganisms (microbiota) to define causal mechanistic bases for their influence on animal traits is an emerging imperative. In this study, we reveal that D. melanogaster starvation resistance (SR), a model quantitative trait in animal genetics, responds to the presence and identity of the microbiota. Using a predictive analysis, we reveal that the amino acid methionine has a key influence on D. melanogaster SR and show that bacterial methionine metabolism mutants alter normal patterns of SR in flies bearing the bacteria. Our data further suggest that these effects are additive, and we propose the untested hypothesis that, similar to bacterial effects on fruit fly triacylglyceride deposition, the bacterial influence may be through dietary modification. Together, these findings expand our understanding of the bacterial genetic basis for influence on a nutritionally relevant trait of a model animal host.

Source: Applied and Environmental Microbiology

DOI: 10.1128/aem.00662-18

Authors: Alec M. Judd, Melinda K. Matthews, Rachel Hughes, Madeline Veloz, Corinne E. Sexton, John M. Chaston

Institution: Brigham Young University

Language: English

Topic: Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences

Subfield: Insect Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: University of Nevada, Las Vegas