Preventing Neurodegeneration in the Drosophila Mutant bubblegum
KT Min, S Benzer - Science, 1999 - science.org
KT Min, S Benzer
Science, 1999•science.orgThe Drosophila melanogaster recessive mutant bubblegum (bgm) exhibits adult
neurodegeneration, with marked dilation of photoreceptor axons. The bubblegum mutant
shows elevated levels of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), as seen in the human
disease adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). In ALD, the excess can be lowered by dietary
treatment with “Lorenzo's oil,” a mixture of unsaturated fatty acids. Feeding the fly mutant one
of the components, glyceryl trioleate oil, blocked the accumulation of excess VLCFAs as well …
neurodegeneration, with marked dilation of photoreceptor axons. The bubblegum mutant
shows elevated levels of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), as seen in the human
disease adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). In ALD, the excess can be lowered by dietary
treatment with “Lorenzo's oil,” a mixture of unsaturated fatty acids. Feeding the fly mutant one
of the components, glyceryl trioleate oil, blocked the accumulation of excess VLCFAs as well …
The Drosophila melanogaster recessive mutantbubblegum (bgm) exhibits adult neurodegeneration, with marked dilation of photoreceptor axons. The bubblegummutant shows elevated levels of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), as seen in the human disease adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). In ALD, the excess can be lowered by dietary treatment with “Lorenzo's oil,” a mixture of unsaturated fatty acids. Feeding the fly mutant one of the components, glyceryl trioleate oil, blocked the accumulation of excess VLCFAs as well as development of the pathology. Mutant flies thus provide a potential model system for studying mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease and screening drugs for treatment.
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