Reference Report

Reference
Citation	Griswold, C.M., Matthews, A.L., Bewley, K.E., Mahaffey, J.W. (1993). Molecular characterization and rescue of acatalasemic mutants of Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 134(3): 781--788. (Export to RIS)
FlyBase ID	FBrf0058604
Publication Type	Research paper
PubMed ID	8349109
PubMed Abstract	The enzyme catalase protects aerobic organisms from oxygen-free radical damage by converting hydrogen peroxide to molecular oxygen and water before it can decompose to form the highly reactive hydroxyl radical. Hydroxyl radicals are the most deleterious of the activated oxygen intermediates found in aerobic organisms. If formed, they can react with biological molecules in their proximity; the ensuing damage has been implicated in the increasing risk of disease and death associated with aging. To study further the regulation and role of catalase we have undertaken a molecular characterization of the Drosophila catalase gene and two potentially acatalasemic alleles. We have demonstrated that a previously existing allele, Catn4, likely contains a null mutation, a mutation which blocks normal translation of the encoded mRNA. The Catn1 mutation appears to cause a significant change in the protein sequence; however, it is unclear why this change leads to a nonfunctioning protein. Viability of these acatalasemic flies can be restored by transformation with the wild-type catalase gene; hence, we conclude that the lethality of these genotypes is due solely to the lack of catalase. The availability of flies with transformed catalase genes has allowed us to address the effect of catalase levels on aging in Drosophila. Though lack of catalase activity caused decreased viability and life span, increasing catalase activity above wild-type levels had no effect on normal life span.
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Language of Publication	English
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Parent Publication
Publication Type	Journal
Abbreviation	Genetics
Title	Genetics
Publication Year	1916-
ISBN/ISSN	0016-6731
Data from Reference
Aberrations (1)
	Df(3L)Cat
Alleles (3)
	Cat^+t7 Catⁿ¹ Catⁿ⁴
Constructs (1)
	P{Cat⁺}
Genes (1)
	Cat