A protocol to use Drosophila melanogaster larvae to model human glioblastoma

Julia G Saborio; Elizabeth E Young; Alexander S Chen; Renee D Read

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101609

A protocol to use Drosophila melanogaster larvae to model human glioblastoma

STAR Protoc. 2022 Aug 8;3(3):101609. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101609. eCollection 2022 Sep 16.

Authors

Julia G Saborio¹, Elizabeth E Young², Alexander S Chen², Renee D Read³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Graduate Program in Cancer Biology and Translational Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
² Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
³ Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Electronic address: renee.read@emory.edu.

Abstract

This protocol describes a genetic model system we developed for glioblastoma (GBM) in Drosophila melanogaster, which can be used to explore the pathogenic phenotypic effects of mutated genetic pathways and to identify potential therapeutic targets for tumors with these mutations. We present genetic schemes and experimental steps needed to create neoplastic glial brain tumors in larval Drosophila. We also provide steps to manipulate genes in this model and to perform brain fixation, immunostaining, and imaging of neoplastic larval brains. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Read et al., (2009).

Keywords: Cancer; Developmental biology; Genetics; Model organisms.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Animals
Brain / diagnostic imaging
Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
Glioblastoma* / genetics
Glioma* / pathology
Humans
Larva / genetics

Grants and funding

R01 NS100967/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States