# Acquisition of a Drosophila chamber for culturing Drosophila strains

> **NIH NIH R15** · OAKLAND UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $18,985

## Abstract

This proposal is for the acquisition of a Drosophila chamber to replace an old and broken
chamber, which was used to culture Drosophila strains in our laboratory. The awarded NIH R15
research project is to study the role of a poorly understood Osiris (Osi) gene family in regulating
tube maturation in Drosophila trachea, which is a premier system to reveal fundamental
mechanisms of tubular organ formation. Malformation of tubes leads to various human diseases,
such as polycystic kidney disease and vascular diseases.
 The Drosophila trachea is a ramifying network of epithelial tubes with a monolayer of epithelial
cells surrounding an apical lumen. During tube maturation, the apical secretion burst deposits
large amounts of luminal matrix components to the apical extracellular lumen. Then, this lumen
is cleared before air can fill the lumen. Previous studies have shown that components of protein
trafficking pathways have been implicated in the secretion/clearance of luminal proteins. The
objective of the awarded project is to reveal the functions of Osi proteins as “broader coordinators”
of protein trafficking during tube maturation. To test this hypothesis, we will complete the following
three specific aims: Aim. 1 Determine the function of Osi genes in trafficking of apical luminal
matrix during tube maturation. Aim. 2: Determine the function of Osi genes as coordinators to
control trafficking components. Aim. 3: Identify proteins that directly bind to Osi proteins. To fulfill
these goals, we will generate fly strains that carrying endosome markers, luminal protein markers
in Osi mutant background to determine changes of endosomes and luminal proteins in Osi
mutants. Then, we will generate lines to express Osi transgenes or endosome transgenes in Osi
mutants to analyze the rescue effect. Thereafter, we will generate fly strains carrying individual
endosome mutations in Osi mutants to test genetic interaction between Osi genes and endosome
genes. Finally, we will express HA-tagged Osi genes in trachea to isolate proteins that interact
with Osi proteins.
 Therefore, to carry out the proposed research, fly strains carrying multiple mutations,
balancers, and transgenes have been and will be generated. Currently the fly strains are cultured
at room temperature in the lab. Unfortunately dozens of strains that were generated for the project
were lost due to unexpected significant decrease or increase of the temperatures. The proposed
instrument, a fly chamber, Model DR-36VL, from GENEVA SCIENTIFIC maintains proper
humidity, light cycles, and stable temperatures will keep the fly strains not only alive but thriving.
Without it, it will not be possible to carry out the proposed experiments in a timely manner.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10580919
- **Project number:** 3R15GM140376-01A1S1
- **Recipient organization:** OAKLAND UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Lan Jiang
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $18,985
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10580919

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10580919, Acquisition of a Drosophila chamber for culturing Drosophila strains (3R15GM140376-01A1S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10580919. Licensed CC0.

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