Transcriptional response to MnSOD over-expression in Drosophila melanogaster

Profiled the transcriptional response to over-expression Manganese-SOD (MnSOD) in adult Drosophila. A doxycycline-regulated system was employed to induce MnSOD over-expression, resulting in mean and maximal lifespan increases of ~ 20%. Examination of the genome-wide response to this lifespan intervention provided key insights into the molecular basis of aging. Keywords: genetic modification; MnSOD over-expression 20 Affymetrix DrosGenome1 arrays were employed with four replicates for each of five conditions. Cohorts of treated and untreated MnSOD transgenic flies were sampled at the same chronological age (~50% survival of -DOX flies, day 73) as well as, at the same physiological age (~50% survival for +DOX and -DOX flies, day 83 and day 73, respectively). The effect of DOX was controlled for by sampling control flies treated with or without DOX at the same chronological age (~50% survival of -DOX flies, day 78).