Gene regulation by O2 deprivation: an anoxia-regulated novel gene in Drosophila melanogaster.

Organisms, across the animal kingdom, vary in their tolerance or susceptibility to cell injury from O2 deprivation. In this study we have taken advantage of the genetically well studied fruit fly to dissect basic mechanisms underlying their ability to tolerate lack of O2. Using differential display and molecular techniques, we cloned and characterized a novel gene, named fau, which is up-regulated considerably following anoxia in Drosophila melanogaster. Northern blot analysis revealed that the transcript of this gene is approximately 0.9 kb in length with an open reading frame encoding a small hydrophilic protein ( approximately 14.4 kDa). This protein has no homology to previously described gene products but has many potential phosphorylation sites. In situ hybridization showed that this gene is located in region 7C-D on the Drosophila X-chromosome and its transcript concentrated in the lamina and cortical neurons of the Drosophila central nervous system (CNS). Transgenic flies showed that over-expression of fau significantly reduced the recovery time of the flies from anoxia. We conclude that (1) this study provided a framework on which the mechanisms underlying anoxia tolerance can be dissected in the fruit fly and (2) fau gene plays an important role in the regulation of tissue responsiveness to O2 deprivation.