Mutations in the novel membrane protein spinster interfere with programmed cell death and cause neural degeneration in Drosophila melanogaster

Mol Cell Biol. 2001 Jun;21(11):3775-88. doi: 10.1128/MCB.21.11.3775-3788.2001.

Abstract

Mutations in the spin gene are characterized by an extraordinarily strong rejection behavior of female flies in response to male courtship. They are also accompanied by decreases in the viability, adult life span, and oviposition rate of the flies. In spin mutants, some oocytes and adult neural cells undergo degeneration, which is preceded by reductions in programmed cell death of nurse cells in ovaries and of neurons in the pupal nervous system, respectively. The central nervous system (CNS) of spin mutant flies accumulates autofluorescent lipopigments with characteristics similar to those of lipofuscin. The spin locus generates at least five different transcripts, with only two of these being able to rescue the spin behavioral phenotype; each encodes a protein with multiple membrane-spanning domains that are expressed in both the surface glial cells in the CNS and the follicle cells in the ovaries. Orthologs of the spin gene have also been identified in a number of species from nematodes to humans. Analysis of the spin mutant will give us new insights into neurodegenerative diseases and aging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Apoptosis*
  • Base Sequence
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Central Nervous System / metabolism
  • Central Nervous System / pathology*
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism
  • Drosophila melanogaster / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insect Proteins / genetics
  • Insect Proteins / metabolism
  • Insect Proteins / physiology*
  • Lipofuscin / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis
  • Nerve Degeneration
  • Neuroglia / metabolism
  • Ovarian Follicle / metabolism
  • Ovary / growth & development
  • Phenotype

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Insect Proteins
  • Lipofuscin
  • Membrane Proteins
  • spin protein, Drosophila

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF212366
  • GENBANK/AF212367
  • GENBANK/AF212368
  • GENBANK/AF212369
  • GENBANK/AF212370
  • GENBANK/AF212371
  • GENBANK/AF212372