Transcriptional Regulation of Xenobiotic Detoxification in Drosophila
08/31/2011
Transcriptional Regulation of Xenobiotic Detoxification in Drosophila Jyoti Misra, Mike Horner, Geanette Lam, and Carl S. Thummel To combat the build up of foreign compounds ("xenobiotics"), organisms have evolved elaborate detoxification pathways. In this paper, Misra et al. identify Nrf2 as a novel, trans-acting factor that mediates the transcriptional control ofxenobiotic metabolism in Drosophila. The activation of xenobiotic metabolism in insects underlies insecticide detoxification, and, ultimately, acquired pesticide resistance, which has enormous agricultural and public health consequences. Misra et al. show that Nrf2 pathway activation is sufficient to confer resistance to the common and general-use pesticide, malathion. Thus, the discovery that Nrf2 is a key regulator of insect xenobiotic metabolism "provides a new context for defining the molecular mechanisms of xenobiotic detoxification and a focal point for developing strategies to overcome acquired pesticide resistance in insects," explains Dr. Thummel. Genes & Development is a publication of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is a private, non-profit, basic research and educational institution. Scientists at the Laboratory conduct groundbreaking research in cancer, neurobiology, plant molecular genetics, genomics and bioinformatics. The Laboratory is recognized internationally for its educational activities, which include an extensive program of scientific meetings and courses that attract more than 8000 scientists to the campus each year. For more information about the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, visit www.cshl.org or call the Department of Public Affairs at (516) 367-8455. Contact:
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