An auxin-inducible, GAL4-compatible, gene expression system for Drosophila

Colin D. McClure; Amira Hassan; Gabriel N. Aughey; Khushbakht Butt; Alicia Estacio-Gómez; Aneisha Duggal; Chee Ying Sia; Annika F. Barber; Tony D. Southall

doi:10.7554/eLife.67598

An auxin-inducible, GAL4-compatible, gene expression system for Drosophila

Colin D. McClure, Amira Hassan, Gabriel N. Aughey, Khushbakht Butt, Alicia Estacio-Gómez, Aneisha Duggal, Chee Ying Sia, Annika F. Barber, Tony D. Southall

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The ability to control transgene expression, both spatially and temporally, is essential for studying model organisms. In Drosophila, spatial control is primarily provided by the GAL4/UAS system, whilst temporal control relies on a temperature-sensitive GAL80 (which inhibits GAL4) and drug-inducible systems. However, these are not ideal. Shifting temperature can impact on many physiological and behavioural traits, and the current drug-inducible systems are either leaky, toxic, incompatible with existing GAL4-driver lines, or do not generate effective levels of expression. Here, we describe the auxin-inducible gene expression system (AGES). AGES relies on the auxin-dependent degradation of a ubiquitously expressed GAL80, and therefore, is compatible with existing GAL4-driver lines. Water-soluble auxin is added to fly food at a low, non-lethal, concentra-tion, which induces expression comparable to uninhibited GAL4 expression. The system works in both larvae and adults, providing a stringent, non-lethal, cost-effective, and convenient method for temporally controlling GAL4 activity in Drosophila.

Original language	American English
Article number	e67598
Journal	eLife
Volume	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.67598
State	Published - Apr 2022
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Neuroscience
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
General Immunology and Microbiology

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title = "An auxin-inducible, GAL4-compatible, gene expression system for Drosophila",

abstract = "The ability to control transgene expression, both spatially and temporally, is essential for studying model organisms. In Drosophila, spatial control is primarily provided by the GAL4/UAS system, whilst temporal control relies on a temperature-sensitive GAL80 (which inhibits GAL4) and drug-inducible systems. However, these are not ideal. Shifting temperature can impact on many physiological and behavioural traits, and the current drug-inducible systems are either leaky, toxic, incompatible with existing GAL4-driver lines, or do not generate effective levels of expression. Here, we describe the auxin-inducible gene expression system (AGES). AGES relies on the auxin-dependent degradation of a ubiquitously expressed GAL80, and therefore, is compatible with existing GAL4-driver lines. Water-soluble auxin is added to fly food at a low, non-lethal, concentra-tion, which induces expression comparable to uninhibited GAL4 expression. The system works in both larvae and adults, providing a stringent, non-lethal, cost-effective, and convenient method for temporally controlling GAL4 activity in Drosophila.",

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AU - Estacio-Gómez, Alicia

AU - Duggal, Aneisha

AU - Sia, Chee Ying

AU - Barber, Annika F.

AU - Southall, Tony D.

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An auxin-inducible, GAL4-compatible, gene expression system for Drosophila

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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