| Citation |
Phillips, A.M., Smart, R., Strauss, R., Brembs, B., Kelly, L.E. (2005). The Drosophila black enigma: the molecular and behavioural characterization of the black1 mutant allele. Gene 351(): 131--142. |
| PubMed Abstract |
The cuticular melanization phenotype of black flies is rescued by beta-alanine, but beta-alanine production, by aspartate
decarboxylation, was reported to be normal in assays of black mutants, and although black/Dgad2 is expressed in the lamina,
the first optic ganglion, no electroretinogram (ERG) or other visual defect has been demonstrated in black flies. The purpose
of this study was to investigate the black gene, and protein, in black(1) mutants of Drosophila melanogaster in order to resolve
the apparent paradox of the black phenotype. Using black(1) mutant flies we show that (1) aspartate decarboxylase activity
is significantly reduced in adults and at puparium formation, consistent with defects in cuticular and non-cuticular processes,
(2) that the black(1) mutation is a frameshift, and black(1) flies are nulls for the black/DGAD2 protein, and (3) that behavioural
experiments using Buridan's paradigm, demonstrate that black responds abnormally to visual cues. No ERG, or target recognition
defects can be demonstrated suggesting a problem with higher order visual functions in black mutants.
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