Canavalia ensiformis lectin induced oxidative stress mediate both toxicity and genotoxicity in Drosophila melanogaster.

Mannose/glucose-binding lectin from Canavalia ensiformis seeds (Concanavalin A - ConA) has several biological applications, such as mitogenic and antitumor activity. However, most of the mechanisms involved in the in vivo toxicity of ConA are not well known. In this study, the Drosophila melanogaster model was used to assess the toxicity and genotoxicity of different concentrations of native ConA (4.

The identity of some specimens previously (mis)identified as Rhinoleucophenga obesa (Loew) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Brazil, based on morphological and molecular data, with implications on distribution.

Rhinoleucophenga Hendel is an endemic genus of the New World with most species recorded in Brazil. Rhinoleucophenga obesa (Loew) seemed to be the most widespread species, being recorded in the United States of America, Mexico and Brazil. In the Neotropical region, identifications of R.

Evolution of DNMT2 in drosophilids: Evidence for positive and purifying selection and insights into new protein (pathways) interactions.

The DNA methyltransferase 2 (DNMT2) protein is the most conserved member of the DNA methyltransferase family. Nevertheless, its substrate specificity is still controversial and elusive. The genomic role and determinants of DNA methylation are poorly understood in invertebrates, and several mechanisms and associations are suggested.

High diversity of Drosophilidae (Insecta, Diptera) in the Pampas Biome of South America, with descriptions of new Rhinoleucophenga species.

In the last three decades some faunal surveys of Drosophilidae have been done in several environments in the Neotropical region, especially in Brazil. But approximately 30 to 50% of the drosophilids in Brazil have not yet been described, and the degradation of some biomes causes a profound loss of species diversity, as well as the loss of information about the present structureof their communities. This is the situation with the pampas biome, which covers southernmost Brazil, all of Uruguay, and the central region of eastern Argentina.

Spatiotemporal transcription of the P element and the 412 retrotransposon during embryogenesis of Drosophila melanogaster and D. willistoni.

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile nucleotide sequences which, through changing position in host genomes, partake in important evolutionary processes. The expression patterns of two TEs, P element transposon and 412 retrotransposon, were investigated during Drosophila melanogaster and D. willistoni embryogenesis, by means of embryo hybridization using riboprobes.

Wolbachia pipientis is associated with different mitochondrial haplotypes in natural populations of Drosophila willistoni.

The prevalence of the endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis and its effects on mitochondrial genetic diversity were analyzed in natural populations of Drosophila willistoni, a neotropical species recently infected. Total infection rate was 55% and no evidence was found that the Wolbachia infection decreased the diversity of mtDNA. Wolbachia was seen to be associated with different mitochondria, suggesting multiple horizontal transmission events and/or transmission paternal leakage of mitochondrial and/or Wolbachia.

Characterization of mitochondrial control region, two intergenic spacers and tRNAs of Zaprionus indianus (Diptera: Drosophilidae).

The control region in insects is the major noncoding region in animal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and is responsible for a large part of the variation in the DNA sequence and size of the genome of this organelle. In this study, the mtDNA control region, two intergenic spacers and tRNA genes of a Zaprionus indianus strain were cloned, sequenced and compared with other Drosophila species. The overall A+T content in the Z.