Uric acid metabolism modulates diet-dependent responses to intraspecific competition in Drosophila larvae

Effects of larval crowding on the transcriptome of Drosophila simulans

“…We performed comparative transcriptomic analysis on adult cohorts reared in high and low larval density and observed pronounced gene expression plasticity with about 22.5% of all expressed genes being significantly different between the two treatments. Interestingly, a significant proportion of the high‐density‐induced genes identified in this study also exhibited differential expression in the same direction as observed in a recent comparative transcriptomic study conducted at the third‐instar larval stage (Morimoto, 2022) (Fisher's exact test; odds ratio = 3.78 and 2.54; p ‐value <2.2 × 10 −16 and p ‐value = 1.8 × 10 −14 for the up‐ and down‐regulated genes respectively). Consistent with previous phenotyping observations (Morimoto et al, 2017; Poças et al, 2022), this result highlights that stress responses during larval stage are carried over to the adult stage, although adults were kept at the same density.…”

“…Interestingly, a significant proportion of the high-density-induced genes identified in this study also exhibited differential expression in the same direction as observed in a recent comparative transcriptomic study conducted at the third-instar larval stage (Morimoto, 2022) (Fisher's exact test; odds ratio = 3.78 and 2.54;…”

“…We aimed for better understanding of the molecular basis and thorough exploration of phenotypic plasticity induced by high larval density. The objective is in line with a recent study in D. melanogaster (Morimoto, 2022) where transcriptomic comparisons were made in larvae reared in high, medium and low density. We performed comparative transcriptomic analysis on adult cohorts reared in high and low larval density and observed pronounced gene expression plasticity with about 22.5% of all expressed genes being significantly different between the two treatments.…”

Super food or super toxic? Turmeric and spirulina as culprits for the toxic effects of food dyes inDrosophila

“…Our study did not allow us to investigate the underlying mechanisms, but it is likely that both turmeric and, to a smaller extent spirulina, modulate excretion pathways that are associated with toxicity, such as the uric acid metabolism pathway. Recently, we have shown that the uric acid metabolism is a key modulator of diet- and toxic-dependent responses in Drosophila (Morimoto, 2022). Thus, it is likely that the toxic effects observed here are, at least partly, related to this pathway.…”

“…We used an outbred population of Drosophila melanogaster from Brittany, France. Fly stocks were maintained in large populations (>1,000 individuals) at 20 o C, approximately 40 % humidity, with a 12:12 h light:dark photoperiod, and fed a yeast-sucrose diet ('control' diet) as described in Morimoto, (2022). Eggs were collected by placing two bottles with the control diet in the stock population cage for 24 h. Bottles were retrieved and maintained at 20 o C until adult emergence.…”