Spineless in the gut - intestinal function of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor from flies to mammals

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) has essential functions in the gut, protecting mice from infection and cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear as research has been hindered by the complex regulation of AHR. I will therefore use a simpler model system. I found that the equivalent of AHR in fruit flies, Spineless, also seems to be important during infection in the gut, but its regulation is less complicated. I will take advantage of the ease and speed of genetic manipulation in fruit flies to answer three main questions: what are the target genes of Spineless, how is Spineless regulated, and what is the function of Spineless in the context of intestinal infection. Results obtained from these experiments will be compared with existing data from the Stockinger lab on AHR to advance our understanding of intestinal physiology and critical, evolutionary conserved functions of AHR/Spineless in this context.