[Molecular variability in geographically distant populations of Drosophila melanogaster at the Lim3 gene regulating nervous system development].

In this study, we compare the variability of the regulatory region of the Lim3 gene, which plays a key role in the development of the nervous system, in two populations of Drosophila melanogaster inhabiting the cities of Aleksandrov (Russia) and Raleigh (United States). The two population areas are located in different geographic regions and differ in their ecology. A comparison of nucleotide sequences of 16 (2010) and 20 (2011) alleles from the Alexandrov population showed that in both cases the variability level of the untranslated Lim3 region was considerably lower than that of the 5' regulatory region adjacent to the transcription start site. According to quantitative and quantitative parameters of the variability, there was no difference between samples of different years, which indicates the stability of the population inhabiting the northern border of the species areal. The patterns of polymorphic sites are similar in both populations, which suggest a neutral character of the variability found with respect to environmental factors, as well as the importance of nucleotide substitutions in a number of sites of the Lim3 regulatory region with respect to the control of this gene expression.

Mitochondria-targeted plastoquinone derivative SkQ1 increases early reproduction of Drosophila melanogaster at the cost of early survival.

It was previously found that 20 pM SkQ1 (10-(6'-plastoquinonyl) decyltriphenylphosphonium) solution increased lifespan of virgin females and males of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster with maximal and highly reproducible effect on early survival of females. In this paper we demonstrate that SkQ1 solution of the same concentration does not increase lifespan of mated females and males, early effect on female survival being absent, whereas early fertility and the total number of progeny are elevated in treated flies. Increase in fertility observed in young mated females instead of increase of survival typical for young virgin females might illustrate the trade-off between the fly's lifespan and reproduction.

Mitochondria-targeted plastoquinone derivatives as tools to interrupt execution of the aging program. 5. SkQ1 prolongs lifespan and prevents development of traits of senescence.

Very low (nano- and subnanomolar) concentrations of 10-(6'-plastoquinonyl) decyltriphenylphosphonium (SkQ1) were found to prolong lifespan of a fungus (Podospora anserina), a crustacean (Ceriodaphnia affinis), an insect (Drosophila melanogaster), and a mammal (mouse). In the latter case, median lifespan is doubled if animals live in a non-sterile vivarium. The lifespan increase is accompanied by rectangularization of the survival curves (an increase in survival is much larger at early than at late ages) and disappearance of typical traits of senescence or retardation of their development. Data summarized here and in the preceding papers of this series suggest that mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1 is competent in slowing down execution of an aging program responsible for development of age-related senescence.