ADrosophilaLexA Enhancer-Trap Resource for Developmental Biology and Neuroendocrine Research

Abstract

Novel binary gene expression tools like the LexA-LexAop system could powerfully enhance studies of metabolism, development, and neurobiology in Drosophila. However, specific LexA drivers for neuroendocrine cells and many other developmentally relevant systems remain limited. In a unique high school biology course, we generated a LexA-based enhancer trap collection by transposon mobilization. The initial collection provides a source of novel LexA-based elements that permit targeted gene expression in the corpora cardiaca, cells central for metabolic homeostasis, and other neuroendocrine cell types. The collection further contains specific LexA drivers for stem cells and other enteric cells in the gut, and other developmentally relevant tissue types. We provide detailed analysis of nearly 100 new LexA lines, including molecular mapping of insertions, description of enhancer-driven reporter expression in larval tissues, and adult neuroendocrine cells, comparison with established enhancer trap collections and tissue specific RNAseq. Generation of this open-resource LexA collection facilitates neuroendocrine and developmental biology investigations, and shows how empowering secondary school science can achieve research and educational goals.

Fizzy-Related dictates A cell cycle switch during organ repair and tissue growth responses in the Drosophila hindgut

“…While many dual transgene systems in flies combine Gal4 with either LexA or Q systems ( Kockel et al, 2016 ; Lai and Lee, 2006 ; Potter et al, 2010 ), there are vastly more currently available Gal4 and partner UAS lines than for these other systems, making our system more immediately employable for the most cell types/transgenes. Additionally, the use of a single Gal4 promoter for both injury and transgene activation provides tissue specificity and ensures both injury and transgenes are expressed in the same population of cells.…”

Subpopulation of Macrophage-Like Plasmatocytes Attenuates Systemic Growth via JAK/STAT in the Drosophila Fat Body

“…Using multiple binary systems including the Gal4-UAS and LexA-LexAop, we can simultaneously visualize several genetic markers and study interactions of respective genes or tissues (47,48,53). Expression of Hml or Pxn have been exploited to illuminate our understandings on development and functions of plasmatocytes, and utilized as markers for plasmatocytes across several Drosophila hematopoiesis analyses (20).…”

“…Moreover, the developmental fluctuations within plasmatocytes have not been examined at a cellular level. To investigate cellular discrepancies of circulating plasmatocytes in developing Drosophila larvae, we utilized two binary systems, Gal4-UAS and LexA-LexAop, to simultaneously visualize two representative markers, Hml and Pxn (47,48).…”

speck, First Identified in Drosophila melanogaster in 1910, Is Encoded by the Arylalkalamine N-Acetyltransferase (AANAT1) Gene

“…Other C ourse-based U ndergraduate R esearch E xperiences (CUREs) have gained more prominence at Universities as faculty identify the advantages of such an approach ( Shaffer et al 2014 ) (see CUREnet: curenet.cns.utexas.edu for additional information), and using genetic complementation to characterize mutants derived from a screen has been quite successful ( Bieser et al 2019 ; Stamm et al 2019 ). The success at the University level has led to this approach moving into high schools, where one collaboration between a high school and University yielded a LexA Drosophila enhancer trap collection ( Kockel et al 2016 ).…”