Paraquat-induced Oxidative Stress in a Drosophila von Hippel Lindau Mutant. Anna Moyer, Marleshia Hall, Janis O'Donnell. Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL.

   von Hippel Lindau (VHL) is a human disease, caused by mutations of the VHL tumor suppressor gene, that results in the development of highly vascularized tumors in the central nervous system, retina, and kidney cells. In mammals, VHL is responsible for the degradation of hypoxia inducible factor- 1 (HIF1) during normoxic conditions, a conserved function in Drosophila. Loss of the Drosophila VHL (dVHL) gene in embryos results in alterations in tracheal migratory behavior, a functional counterpart of vascularization in vertebrates. However, little research exists that seeks to determine the consequences of the loss of VHL in adult Drosophila. Our current research focuses on whether this loss results in susceptibility to the herbicide paraquat, which we have found to promote tracheal branch extension in adult brains that is coordinated with a neuroinflammatory response. Data have shown that loss of a single copy of dVHL causes sensitivity to 1-, 3-, and 5 mM paraquat compared to control flies. Further studies have been conducted to determine whether loss of this gene results in the induction of the inflammatory response and what other factors may be contributing to this increased sensitivity.