Figure 1.

The loss of Trap1 in Drosophila causes motor impairment and an increased sensitivity to stress. (a) Genomic map of Trap1 (cytological location 42B2). Black, untranslated regions; light blue, exons. The P-element insertion (EY10238) is indicated by the red triangle. The neighbouring genes (Vha16-1 and Bap170) are indicated in dark blue. Trap1⁴ deletion, delimited by the dashed lines, removes most of the Trap1 gene. (b) Analysis of the expression levels of Trap1 and its neighbouring genes. Expression levels were measured by real-time PCR in 3-day-old flies with the indicated genotypes (mean Ct±S.D., n=4 per genotype). Expression of actin was used as a control. No Ct for the Trap1 transcript was detected in Trap1⁴ mutants. (c) Trap1⁴ mutants (red) have a reduced lifespan compared with the controls (black). Fly viability was scored over a period of 75 days, using a minimum of 100 flies per genotype. The statistical significance is indicated (log-rank, Mantel–Cox test). (d–g) Trap1 mutant flies show enhanced sensitivity to stress. (d) Flies were subjected to heat stress, and viability was assessed after 24 h. A total of 100 males (4 days old) were assayed for each genotype. The asterisks indicate significant values (Fisher's exact test, two-sided, alpha<0.05). (e–g) Flies were maintained on food supplemented with the indicated drugs, and the viability was scored over a period of 60 days, using a minimum of 100 flies per genotype. The statistical significance is indicated by the asterisks (log-rank, Mantel–Cox test). (h) Trap1⁴ mutants show a decrease in motor performance. Flies with the indicated genotypes and ages were tested using a standard climbing assay (mean±S.D., n≥80 flies for each genotype). The asterisks indicate significant values (two-way ANOVA with the Bonferroni multiple comparison test)