Transvection, a chromosome pairing-dependent form of trans-based gene regulation, is widespread in the Drosophila melanogaster genome. Recent studies demonstrate that transvection is sensitive to cell environment and type in D. melanogaster, implicating transvection as a complex trait. To test this possibility, we first established that trans-interactions previously documented at the Malic enzyme (Men) locus are transvection (i.e., pairing-dependent). We then characterized the sensitivity of transvection at the Men locus to changes in the environment (temperature) and genetic background (third chromosome). Transvection varied significantly across genetic backgrounds and was significantly reduced by changes in temperature, and the two factors interacted to further modify transvection, while cis-based gene regulation remained unchanged by temperature. To determine if differences in transvection observed across genetic background and temperature are related to their effects on transcription factor expression, and possibly the presence or absence of binding sites for these transcription factors within the Men locus, we tested the relationship between Men expression and five transcription factors with binding sites near the Men transcription start sit (TSS). We found correlations between the expression of at least one transcription factor, Abd-B, and the presence of binding sites for that factor, and Men expression across changes in the environment. We also determined that changes in Abd-B expression can directly affect Men expression in cis, suggesting that cis and trans-regulation can share regulatory components in at least some cases. Together, our findings stress the importance of studying genetic interactions from a dynamic perspective by incorporating both genetic and environmental variation.

No description available.

Phenotypic plasticity in Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) can be driven by a trade-off for ecological specialisation to littoral and pelagic resources. Previous studies on perch have found that this specialisation can have different effects on linkage between the littoral and pelagic food web depending on water transparency. In this study I aimed to answer how foraging efficiency and prey preference of phenotypic divergent perch are affected by high and low water transparency, and the presence of a predator in a series of aquarium experiments. Two different phenotypes of perch were kept in littoral and pelagic environments in the lab. By presenting perch with Daphnia sp. and Ephemeroptera, either separately or combined. I found that in clear water the littoral and pelagic phenotypes were comparatively more efficient on resources that were representative of their habitats (Ephemeroptera and Daphnia, respectively) and that both phenotypes prefer Ephemeroptera over Daphnia. In low visibility the differences in foraging efficiency between phenotypes when feeding on Daphnia disappeared but remained similar to clear water when feeding on Ephemeroptera. When vision was constrained littoral and pelagic perch showed no sign of prey preferences. In the presence of a predator the difference in foraging efficiency between the phenotypes, and also prey preference disappeared. I found that littoral phenotypes interacted more with other group members than did pelagic phenotypes, when foraging on littoral prey. And for perch in general, when foraging for Daphnia the interaction among group members was markedly reduced compared to when foraging for Ephemeroptera. In this study I show that morphological adaptation and prey choice is affected by visibility and predation. I also give suggestions how and argue why this can affect linkage of food webs and the community composition in littoral and pelagic habitats.

Phenotypic plasticity allows some animals to change their behavioural, morphological, performance, and life history traits in response to changes in environmental conditions such as the presence of predators. These changes can enhance survival, but come at a cost. Some of these phenotypic changes are predator and diet specific. I examined the effects of predator diet on the performance, life-history, and morphology of developing Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) tadpoles. Tadpoles were either exposed to cues from fish free water, cues from Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) fed a diet of trout pellets, or cues from A. nebulosus fed a L. pipiens tadpoles diet. Tadpoles exposed to predatory fish cues had smaller bodies, deeper tail fins, slower growth and development rates, and better rotational performance than tadpoles that were not exposed to predatory fish cues. Moreover, tadpoles appeared to differentiate between predatory fish diet and produced diet-specific responses in tail morphology and activity, although the latter effect was only marginally significant. Hatching, metamorphosis rates, and linear performance were not affected by the treatments. These results suggest that A. nebulosus can induce phenotypic changes in L. pipiens tadpoles, with some of these changes being diet specific.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 106-116).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2008. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-112). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1990. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [112]-128).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 2003. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 13, 2006). Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 136-146).

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2017-03-28T12:35:23Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação_Manuella da Luz D Barros.pdf: 1660746 bytes, checksum: 1cd53d223f6d92ef7dab1a2d30b49ece (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-28T12:35:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação_Manuella da Luz D Barros.pdf: 1660746 bytes, checksum: 1cd53d223f6d92ef7dab1a2d30b49ece (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-23 / FACEPE / CNPQ / A plasticidade fenotípica compreende a capacidade do organismo de elaborar adaptações morfofuncionais em resposta aos estímulos ambientais. Essa capacidade é mais intensa durante a gestação e lactação (plasticidade do desenvolvimento), podendo estar associada a consequências ao longo da vida. Neste contexto, a serotonina (5-HT) tem papel determinante no desenvolvimento do sistema nervoso central. Além disso, a 5-HT participa do controle central homeostático do balanço energético no núcleo arqueado (Arc) do hipotálamo, estimulando a saciedade e o gasto de energia através da inibição de neurônios orexígenos e estimulação de neurônios anorexígenos via receptores 5-HT1B e 5-HT2C, respectivamente. Dessa forma, a alteração da atividade serotoninérgica durante o desenvolvimento pode modificar a regulação e a expressão do comportamento alimentar em longo prazo. Estudos prévios de nosso grupo de pesquisa apontaram que a inibição seletiva neonatal da recaptação de serotonina (ISNRS) pode estar associada a fenótipo hipofágico na vida adulta. Nós acreditamos que esse fenótipo se deve a maior atividade da via anorexígena no Arc. Diante disso, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da ISNRS sobre o peso corporal, o comportamento alimentar e a atividade neuronal no Arc em resposta aos agonistas dos receptores 5HT2C e 5-HT1B em ratos adultos. Ratos Wistar foram tratados com solução salina (SAL, n=15) ou fluoxetina (FLUO, n=15) do 1° ao 21° dia pós-natal. Aos 170 dias de vida foi realizada cirurgia de estereotaxia para implantação de cânula no ventrículo lateral direito através da qual foram feitas as injeções intracerebroventricular (ICV). Aos 180 dias foi realizada a pesagem dos animais seguida de injeção ICV de ACSF, agonista do receptor 5-HT2C ou agonista do receptor 5-HT1B, obtendo-se seis grupos experimentais (n=5 animais/grupo): SAL+ACSF, SAL+AG.1B, SAL+AG.2C, FLUO+ACSF, FLUO+AG.1B e FLUO+AG.2C. A partir desses grupos, foi analisada a sequência comportamental de saciedade (SCS) e o número de células reativas contra proteína c-fos no Arc. Comparado ao grupo SAL, o grupo FLUO apresentou menor peso corporal. A ISNRS também promoveu maior ingestão alimentar frente ao estímulo com o agonista 5-HT2C, menor taxa alimentar após injeção de ACSF e antecipação do ponto de saciedade após estímulo com o agonista 5-HT1B. Além disso, o grupo FLUO apresentou maior número de células reativas contra c-fos no Arc frente ao agonista 5-HT2C. Corroborando nossa hipótese, a ISNRS parece promover aumento da atividade da via anorexígena no Arc na idade adulta, apesar de não ter ocorrido redução da ingestão alimentar. Em conjunto, os achados deste estudo sugerem que o menor peso corporal em ratos adultos submetidos à ISNRS pode ser consequência do aumento da atividade da via anorexígena no Arc, o que pode contribuir para um aumento do gasto energético. / Phenotypic plasticity comprises the ability of an organism to develop morphological and functional adaptations in response to environmental stimuli. This capacity is more intense during pregnancy and lactation (developmental plasticity) and may be associated with consequences throughout life. In this context, serotonin (5-HT) has a decisive role in the development of the central nervous system. Furthermore, 5-HT participates in homeostatic central control of energy balance in the arcuate nucleus (Arc) of the hypothalamus, stimulating satiety and energy expenditure through inhibition of orexigenic neurons and stimulation anorectic neurons via 5-HT1B receptors and 5-HT2C, respectively. Thus, the modification of serotonergic activity during development can change the regulation and expression of feeding behavior in the long term. Previous studies from our research group showed that neonatal selective serotonin reuptake inhibition (NSSRI) may be associated with hypophagic phenotype in adulthood. We believe that this phenotype is due to increased activity of anorectic via in the Arc. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of NSSRI on body weight, feeding behavior and neuronal activity in the Arc in response to 5-HT2C and 5-HT1B receptors agonists in adult rats. Wistar rats were treated with saline (SAL, n=15) or fluoxetine (FLUO, n=15) from 1° to 21° postnatal day. At 170 days, stereotactic surgery was performed for implantation of a cannula in the right lateral ventricle through which were made the intracerebroventricular injections (ICV). At 180 days, weighing of animals was performed followed by ICV injections of ACSF, 5-HT2C or 5-HT1B receptors agonists, resulting in six experimental groups (n=5 animals/group): SAL+ACSF, SAL+AG.1B, SAL+AG.2C, FLUO+ACSF, FLUO+AG.1B and FLUO+AG.2C. From these groups, behavioral satiety sequence (SCS) and number of reactive cells against c-fos protein in the Arc were analyzed. Compared to the SAL group, FLUO group had lower body weight. NSSRI also promoted greater food intake after stimulation with 5-HT2C receptor agonist, lower feed rate after injection of ACSF and anticipation of the point of satiety after stimulation with 5-HT1B receptor agonist. Furthermore, FLUO group had a higher number of reactive cells against c-fos in the Arc after stimulation with 5-HT2C receptor agonist. Corroborating our hypothesis, NSSRI seems to promote increased anorexigenic pathway activity in the Arc in adulthood, despite not having been reduced food intake. Together, the findings suggest that lower body weight in adult rats submitted to NSSRI may be a consequence of increased anorexigenic pathway activity in the Arc, which can contribute to an increase in energy expenditure.

It has long been evident that genome size is not an accurate measure of organismal complexity. This paradox was “solved” with the discovery of nonfunctional and selfish DNA in the 1970s. However, emerging from this explanation was an enigma of complexity. Neither neutral nor adaptive models can account for all genome size variation across the tree of life. An organism with intraspecific variation is needed to investigate the functional role of genome size differences. Here I use different populations of the seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus, with a known intraspecific genome size variation of ~4%. It has previously been shown that a larger genome is associated with higher scores in fitness-related traits for this species. In this study, genome size is regressed with phenotypic plasticity along three different environmental gradients. Genome size did not correlate with plasticity in mass and development time along environmental gradients of temperature and host types. However, the results show that larger genomes are consistent with higher canalization of fitness under different food regimes. This further supports the idea that natural selection acts on genome size variation in this species.