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Access Type
Open Access
Document Type
thesis
Degree Program
Animal Science
Degree Type
Master of Science (M.S.)
Year Degree Awarded
2010
Month Degree Awarded
May
Keywords
DDT, Drosophila, Resistance, Metabolism, P-glycoprotein
Abstract
Resistance to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in the 91-R strain of Drosophila melanogaster is extremely high compared to the susceptible Canton-S strain (>1500 times). Oxidative detoxification is involved in resistance but is not the only mechanism. Rates of DDT penetration, metabolism, and excretion were determined radiometrically between resistant 91-R and susceptible Canton-S strains. Contact penetration was ~1.5-times slower with 91-R flies compared to Canton-S flies. The 91-R strain had 13-fold more cuticular hydrocarbons, possibly resulting in penetration differences. DDT was metabolized ~33-fold more extensively by 91-R than Canton-S resulting in dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD), two unidentified metabolites and polar conjugates being formed in significantly greater amounts. 91-R also excreted ~5.0 times more DDT and metabolites than Canton-S. Verapamil pretreatment reduced the LD50 value for 91-R flies topically dosed with DDT by a factor of 10-fold. Thus, it is likely that the increased excretion by 91-R flies is due to the increased expression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter genes, including MDR50 (CG8525) that had a 36% higher transcript level by quantitative real time PCR than Canton-S flies. In summary, DDT resistance in 91-R is polyfactorial and includes reduced penetration, increased detoxification and direct excretion.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7275/1219623
First Advisor
John M. Clark