Studies of Drosophila melanogaster have led to
molecular insights concerning biomolecular
mechanisms of biology and disease including
development, differentiation, cancer and aging.
Wild-type Drosophila, unlike vertebrate mammals,
selectively retains gamma-tocopherol over alpha-
tocopherol. Urate-deficient Drosophila compared to
wild-type had similar levels of glutathione but only
50% of the ascorbate levels. Dietary
supplementation with ascorbate dramatically
increased its level while chemically-defined diets
led to rapid depletion of ascorbate in both strains.
It is concluded that Drosophila do not synthesize
ascorbate, and in this respect are similar to
humans. Wild-type and urate-deficient Drosophila
were continuously exposed to ozone. Exposure of
Drosophila to 2 ppm ozone/24hrs/day unmasked a
marked sensitivity phenotype of urate-deficient
Drosophila. Studies revealed that ascorbate
supplementation decreased ozone-induced toxicity in
Drosophila. Collectively, these data reveal the
usefulness of Drosophila as a model organism for
studying micronutrient antioxidants and their
interrelationship with ozone-induced toxicity.
molecular insights concerning biomolecular
mechanisms of biology and disease including
development, differentiation, cancer and aging.
Wild-type Drosophila, unlike vertebrate mammals,
selectively retains gamma-tocopherol over alpha-
tocopherol. Urate-deficient Drosophila compared to
wild-type had similar levels of glutathione but only
50% of the ascorbate levels. Dietary
supplementation with ascorbate dramatically
increased its level while chemically-defined diets
led to rapid depletion of ascorbate in both strains.
It is concluded that Drosophila do not synthesize
ascorbate, and in this respect are similar to
humans. Wild-type and urate-deficient Drosophila
were continuously exposed to ozone. Exposure of
Drosophila to 2 ppm ozone/24hrs/day unmasked a
marked sensitivity phenotype of urate-deficient
Drosophila. Studies revealed that ascorbate
supplementation decreased ozone-induced toxicity in
Drosophila. Collectively, these data reveal the
usefulness of Drosophila as a model organism for
studying micronutrient antioxidants and their
interrelationship with ozone-induced toxicity.