Transcriptomics of two D. melanogaster strains exposed to nicotine as first-instar larvae

We carried out genetic mapping in the Drosophila Synthetic Population Resource (FlyRILs.org, Genome Research 22:1558-66) to identify QTL (quantitative trait loci) contributing to variation in the nicotine resistance of first-instar larva. To follow up this work, and look for candidate genes exhibiting differential gene expression, we carried out RNAseq on pools of first-instar larvae from two of the inbred strains that founded the DSPR: Lines A3 (derived from Bloomington Stock 3844) and A4 (derived from Bloomington Stock 3852). In addition we exposed groups of larvae from each genotype to nicotine for a short period of time, resulting in four samples: A3-control, A3-nicotine, A4-control, and A4-nicotine. Analysis revealed a number of genes that changed in expression between genotypes and/or treatments.

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