Investigating Essential Genes for Mitochondrial Function Using Genomics in Drosophila
Madison Raub
Department of Biology
Faculty Supervisor: Blake Riggs
Mitochondria, once merely taught as the powerhouse of the cell, has become an important point of interest when understanding the development of neurodegenerative disease linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. Although we know this link exists, understanding the genetic foundation of dysfunction in mitochondria is poorly understood. In this study, we aim to identify mitochondrial genes necessary for regulating proteins involved in mitochondrial function and to determine how mtDNA variations can contribute to dysfunction using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. Utilizing publicly available genome sequences, we will annotate coding and non-coding regions of mtDNA using bioinformatic tools like GeneMark, Prodigal, and BLAST, then predict candidate genes that can then be constructed using homology searches against UniProt and GenBank. Comparative analysis will be performed across the mitochondrial genomes of different Drosophila species to identify the conserved and divergent genes to assess the evolutionary constraints. This phylogenetic analysis reveals lineage-specific adaptations and potential regulatory elements critical for mitochondrial formation integrity. Utilizing this integrative approach and these findings can enhance our understanding of molecular mechanisms playing a role in mitochondrial evolution and mitochondrial dysfunction causing diseases.