| dc.description.abstract | Sialyltransferase and other glycosylation enzymes are emerging as important players in crucial regulatory post-translational modifications. These enzymes transfer sugars to glycoproteins and glycolipids, and may aid in activation and suppression of these molecules. Drosophila Sialyltransferase (DSiaT) shows expression during Central Nervous System development in larvae. This leads us to believe it plays an important role in not only this process but also the overall health of the flies. We report that mutations to this gene show significant reductions in fly longevity, fertility, and viability. Immunohistochemical staining experiments revealed DSiaT expression in ovaries, which implies a possible correlation between the sialyltransferase protein and oogenesis. Attempts to rescue this mutant phenotype back to wild type, using mutant flies that also possessed a functional copy of DSiaT downstream of an upstream activating sequence (UAS), were successful in most cases. | en |
