Genome-wide transcriptional profiling shows that reducing gravity levels in the International Space Station (ISS) causes important alterations in Drosophila gene expression. However simulation experiments on ground without space constraints show weaker effects than space environment. A global and integrative analysis using the gene expression dynamics inspector (GEDI) self-organizing maps reveals a subtle response of the transcriptome using different populations and microgravity and hypergravity simulation devices. These results suggest that in addition to behavioural responses that can be detected also at the gene expression level the transcriptome is finely tuned to normal gravity. The alteration of this constant parameter on Earth can have effects on gene expression that depends both on the environmental conditions and the ground based facility used to compensate the gravity vector. Alternative and commons effects of mechanical facilities like the Random Positioning Machine and a centrifuge and strong magnetic field ones like a cryogenically cooled superconductive magnet are discussed. We compare the effects over the gene expression profile of different gender/age Drosophila imagoes in 3-4 days-long experiments under altered gravity conditions into three GBF (Ground Based Facilities for micro/hyper- gravity simulation) using whole genome microarray platforms. Descriptions of different GBFs (treatments): LDC means Large Diameter Centrifuge. Samples can be placed under three conditions: inside LDC (at certain g level) at the LDC rotational control and at external 1g control (outside the LDC). RPM means Random Positioning Machine. Samples can be placed under two conditions: inside RPM (at nearly 0g Microgravity level) and at external 1g control (outside the RPM). At the magnet means INSIDE the Magnetic levitator (another GBF). Samples can be placed under four conditions: inside Magnet 0g* (at microgravity with magnetic field) inside Magnet at 1g* (internal control with magnetic field) or inside the magnet 2g* (at hypergravity with magnetic field) and at external 1g control (outside the magnet)

Genome-wide transcriptional profiling shows that reducing gravity levels in the International Space Station (ISS) causes important alterations in Drosophila gene expression. However simulation experiments on ground without space constraints show weaker effects than space environment. A global and integrative analysis using the gene expression dynamics inspector (GEDI) self-organizing maps reveals a subtle response of the transcriptome using different populations and microgravity and hypergravity simulation devices. These results suggest that in addition to behavioural responses that can be detected also at the gene expression level the transcriptome is finely tuned to normal gravity. The alteration of this constant parameter on Earth can have effects on gene expression that depends both on the environmental conditions and the ground based facility used to compensate the gravity vector. Alternative and commons effects of mechanical facilities like the Random Positioning Machine and a centrifuge and strong magnetic field ones like a cryogenically cooled superconductive magnet are discussed. We compare the effects over the gene expression profile of different gender/age Drosophila imagoes in 3-4 days-long experiments under altered gravity conditions into three GBF (Ground Based Facilities for micro/hyper- gravity simulation) using whole genome microarray platforms. Descriptions of different GBFs (treatments): LDC means Large Diameter Centrifuge. Samples can be placed under three conditions: inside LDC (at certain g level) at the LDC rotational control and at external 1g control (outside the LDC). RPM means Random Positioning Machine. Samples can be placed under two conditions: inside RPM (at nearly 0g Microgravity level) and at external 1g control (outside the RPM). At the magnet means INSIDE the Magnetic levitator (another GBF). Samples can be placed under four conditions: inside Magnet 0g* (at microgravity with magnetic field) inside Magnet at 1g* (internal control with magnetic field) or inside the magnet 2g* (at hypergravity with magnetic field) and at external 1g control (outside the magnet)

Genome-wide transcriptional profiling showed that reducing gravity levels in the International Space Station (ISS) causes important alterations in Drosophila gene expression intimately linked to imposed spaceflight-related environmental constrains during Drosophila metamorphosis. However simulation experiments on ground testing space-related environmental constraints show differential responses. Curiously although particular genes are not common in the different experiments the same GO groups including a large multigene family related with behavior stress response and organogenesis are over represented in them. A global and integrative analysis using the gene expression dynamics inspector (GEDI) self-organizing maps reveals different degrees in the responses of the transcriptome when using different environmental conditions or microgravity/hypergravity simulation devices. These results suggest that the transcriptome is finely tuned to normal gravity. In regular environmental conditions the alteration of this constant parameter on Earth can have mild effects on gene expression but when environmental conditions are far from optimal the gene expression is much more intense and consistent effects.

Genome-wide transcriptional profiling showed that reducing gravity levels in the International Space Station (ISS) causes important alterations in Drosophila gene expression intimately linked to imposed spaceflight-related environmental constrains during Drosophila metamorphosis. However simulation experiments on ground testing space-related environmental constraints show differential responses. Curiously although particular genes are not common in the different experiments the same GO groups including a large multigene family related with behavior stress response and organogenesis are over represented in them. A global and integrative analysis using the gene expression dynamics inspector (GEDI) self-organizing maps reveals different degrees in the responses of the transcriptome when using different environmental conditions or microgravity/hypergravity simulation devices. These results suggest that the transcriptome is finely tuned to normal gravity. In regular environmental conditions the alteration of this constant parameter on Earth can have mild effects on gene expression but when environmental conditions are far from optimal the gene expression is much more intense and consistent effects.

Transcriptional crosstalk between mammary gland liver and adipose tissue Experiment Overall Design: Pregnant and Lactating rats exposed to 3 gravity conditions

Larvae-Pupae transition flies (Drosophila) were recovered and transport for 3 days at 12-14C to arrest development until the launch site then exposed to RT (18-20C) for some hours including the launch and trip to the International Space Station then pupae were exposed to microgravity in the ISS for 4 days and a half at 22C. Finally pupae were fixed on acetone and frozen until recovery on Earth. Four groups of samples: 1 ISS (+ground control) as described 2 RPM (microgravity simulator on Earth) as described 3 RPM without constrains (No MAMBA container and only 5 days exposure without cold transport) and 4 centrifuge 10g without constrains control.

Gene expression levels were determined in 3rd instar and adult Drosophila melanogaster reared during spaceflight to elucidate the genetic and molecular mechanisms underpinning the effects of microgravity on the immune system. The goal was to validate the Drosophila model for understanding alterations of innate immune responses in humans due to spaceflight. Five containers of flies with ten female and five male fruit flies in each container were housed and bred on the space shuttle (average orbit altitude of 330.35 km) for 12 days and 18.5 hours with a new generation reared in microgravity. RNA was extracted on the day of shuttle landing from whole body animals (3rd instar larvae and adults) hybridized to Drosophila 2.0 Affymetrix genome arrays and the expression level of all genes was normalized against the gene expression level from the corresponding developmental stage animals raised on ground. Spaceflight altered the expression of larval genes involved in the maturation of plasmatocytes (macrophages) and their phagocytic response as well as the level of constitutive expression of pattern recognition receptors and opsonins that specifically recognize bacteria and of lysozymes antimicrobial peptide pathway and immune stress genes hallmarks of humoral immunity. Larval microarrays (FL 6 samples) are based on RNA extracted from 6 independent sets of 50 mid 3rd instar larvae reared in microgravity and collected on the day of landing after 12 days and 18.5 hours on the space shuttle and the same number of control larvae raised on ground (GL 6 samples). Adults microarrays (F1 3 samples) are based on RNA from 3 sets of 20 adult females each that emerged during spaceflight and within 4 hours of landing and the same number of adult females from the corresponding ground control containers (G1 3 samples).

Transcriptional crosstalk between mammary gland liver and adipose tissue Experiment Overall Design: Pregnant and Lactating rats exposed to 3 gravity conditions

Microgravity as well as chronic muscle disuse are two causes of low back pain originated at least in part from paraspinal muscle deconditioning. At present no study investigated the complexity of the molecular changes in human or mouse paraspinal muscles exposed to microgravity. The aim of this study was to evaluate longissimus dorsi and tongue (as a new potential in-flight negative control) adaptation to microgravity at global gene expression level. C57BL/N6 male mice were flown aboard the BION-M1 biosatellite for 30 days (BF) or housed in a replicate flight habitat on ground (BG). Global gene expression analysis identified 89 transcripts differentially regulated in longissimus dorsi of BF vs. BG mice (False Discovery Rrate < 0,05 and fold change < -2 and > +2) while only a small number of genes were found differentially regulated in tongue muscle ( BF vs. BG = 27 genes). Overall Design: C57BL/N6 mice were randomly divided in 3 groups: Bion Flown (BF) mice flown aboard the Bion M1 biosatellite in microgravity environment for 30 days; Bion Ground (BG) mice housed in the same habitat of flown animals but exposed to earth gravity; and Flight Control (FC) mice housed in a standard animal facility.

Microgravity exposure as well as chronic muscle disuse are two of the main causes of physiological adaptive skeletal muscle atrophy in humans and murine animals in physiological condition. The aim of this study was to investigate at both morphological and global gene expression level skeletal muscle adaptation to microgravity in mouse soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL). Adult male mice C57BL/N6 were flown aboard the BION-M1 biosatellite for 30 days on orbit (BF) or housed in a replicate flight habitat on Earth (BG) as reference flight control. In this study we investigated for the first time gene expression adaptation to 30 days of microgravity exposure in mouse soleus and EDL highlighting potential new targets for improvement of countermeasures able to ameliorate or even prevent microgravity-induced atrophy in future spaceflights. Overall Design: C57BL/N6 mice were randomly divided in 3 groups: Bion Flown (BF) mice flown aboard the Bion M1 biosatellite in microgravity environment for 30 days; Bion Ground (BG) mice housed in the same habitat of flown animals but exposed to earth gravity; and Flight Control (FC) mice housed in a standard animal facility.