Model Organisms - Owald Flashcards
Explain the concept of the binary expression system used to create drosophila mutants
Fly A expresses a transcription factor (from another organism) downstream of a promoter fragment. This fragment wil lead to expression of the transcription factor in specific cells only.
Fly B harbours a response element that the transcription factor will bind to. Downstream you can have any gene of interest specifically in the cells you want to target.
What is importantly when choosing a transcription factor in the binary expression system?
The critical trick is to use a transcription factor from another organism that lacks a cognate factor in flies. One needs to make sure the same transcription factor binding site is not used by a homologous or unrelated fly transcription factor.
How can Shibire-ts1 be used to study neurotransmission?
Shibire alleles are a set of non-complementing
temperature-sensitive.
Mutant animals show impairedfunctioning at temperatures above 29 degrees C. The UAS-Shits1 transgender allows one to misexpress Shits1 in neurons of choice and transiently block their neurotransmission by elevating the temperature of the flies above the restrictive 29 degrees C.
