A holidic medium for Drosophila melanogaster

Matthew Piper, Eric Blanc, Ricardo Leitao-Goncalves, Mingyao Yang, Xiaoli He, Nancy J Linford, Matthew P Hoddinott, Corinna Hopfen, George A Soultoukis, Christine Niemeyer, Fiona Kerr, Scott Pletcher, Carlos Ribeiro, Linda Partridge

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

244 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A critical requirement for research using model organisms is a well-defined and consistent diet. There is currently no complete chemically defined (holidic) diet available for Drosophila melanogaster. We describe a holidic medium that is equal in performance to an oligidic diet optimized for adult fecundity and lifespan. This holidic diet supports development over multiple generations but at a reduced rate. Over 7 years of experiments, the holidic diet yielded more consistent experimental outcomes than did oligidic food for egg laying by females. Nutrients and drugs were more available to flies in holidic medium and, similar to dietary restriction on oligidic food, amino acid dilution increased fly lifespan. We used this holidic medium to investigate amino acid-specific effects on food-choice behavior and report that folic acid from the microbiota is sufficient for Drosophila development.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)100-105
Number of pages6
JournalNature Methods
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2014
Externally publishedYes

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