A linamarase transgene controlled by heatshock creates a pro-toxin activation system in Drosophila melanogaster

TL;DR

Scientists made fruit fly larvae sensitive to a plant toxin by inserting a plant enzyme gene controlled by heat shock.

Contribution

A novel pro-toxin activation system in Drosophila using a heat-shock-controlled linamarase transgene.

Findings

Drosophila larvae with the transgene become sensitive to linamarin after heat-shock.

Exposure to gaseous hydrogen cyanide is suggested as the cause of larval death.

Control larvae in sealed containers with transgenic larvae also show sensitivity.

Abstract

Linamarase is a plant β-glucosidase enzyme involved in the activation of plant protoxins. It thereby plays a key role in plant defense mechanisms against herbivory. We have taken the linamarase gene sequence from cassava and placed it into the genome of Drosophila melanogaster under the control of non-leaky heat-shock promoter. We show that Drosophila larvae carrying the transgene become sensitive to the pro-toxin linamarin after heat-shock. Furthermore, the sensitivity is elevated in sealed containers and control-larvae sharing such containers with linamarase-larvae are also sensitive, suggesting that the larvae are dying from poisoning with gaseous hydrogen cyanide.

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