Abstract: Curly wing is one of the most frequently used genetic markers in Drosophila melanogaster, but its molecular mechanism is remained unclear. Previous results have showed that physicochemical stimulation would affect the formation of the cruly wing. Our recent study found that H₂O₂ could not only affect the eclosion rate of D. melanogaster, but also induce the formation of curly wing. Here, we aimed to uncover the specific factors influencing the formation of curly wing in D. melanogaster via changing the concentration of H₂O₂ and the temperature as well as the time of H₂O₂ treatment. We measured the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), in order to examine the effects of H₂O₂ on antioxidative capacity of D. melanogaster. The results showed that the eclosion rate of D. melanogaster was inversely correlated with the concentration of H₂O₂. The change of temperature, H₂O₂ concentration and the period of H₂O₂ treatment affected the degree of the curl and the proportion of the curly wing. The white mutant flies responded most significantly to these three conditions, the mini-white (white gene reverse mutation) flies could rescue the curly phenotype, and responded similarly to the wild type OR. H₂O₂ had effects on the formation of the curly wing which contained the Cy mutation, leading to increased rate of the curly wing. D. melanogaster treated with H₂O₂ would reduce the antioxidative capacity. Results from real-time quantitative PCR showed that H₂O₂ treatment resulted in a change in gene expression. The formation of curly wing was a complicated process, and H₂O₂ might act as a signaling molecule or indirectly affect certain factors in the formation of curly wing in D. melano-gaster. This process might share the same signaling pathway with the Cy mutant, or might be regulated by different modulating patterns.

Key words: H₂O₂, Drosophila melanogaster, curly wing, white gene, oxidation.