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Trautenberg LC, Knittelfelder O, Hofmann C, Shevchenko A, Brankatschk M, Prince E. How to use the development of individual Drosophila larvae as a metabolic sensor. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 126:104095. [PMID: 32783958 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2020.104095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic research is a challenge because of the variety of data within experimental series and the difficulty of replicating results among scientific groups. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is a cost-effective and reliable pioneer model to screen dietary variables for metabolic research. One of the main reasons for problems in this field are differences in food recipes, diet-associated microbial environments and the pharmacokinetic behavior of nutrients across the gut-blood barrier. To prevent such experimental shortcomings, a common strategy is to pool scores of subjects into one sample to create an average statement. However, this approach lacks information about the biological spread and may provoke misleading interpretations. We propose to use the developmental rate of individual Drosophila larvae as a metabolic sensor. To do so, we introduce here a 96-well plate-based assay, which allows screening for multiple variables including food quality, microbial load, and genetic differences. We demonstrate that on a diet that is rich in calories, pupation is sensitive to the variation of dietary lipid compounds and that genotypes considered as wild-types/controls produce different developmental profiles. Our platform is suited for later automation and represents a potent high-throughput screening tool for the pharmacology and food industry. If used systematically, our assay could become a powerful reference tool to compare the quality of used dietary configurations with published benchmark recipes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Oskar Knittelfelder
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG), Dresden, Germany
| | - Carla Hofmann
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC) of the Technische Universitat Dresden (TUD), Dresden, Germany
| | - Andrej Shevchenko
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG), Dresden, Germany
| | - Marko Brankatschk
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC) of the Technische Universitat Dresden (TUD), Dresden, Germany.
| | - Elodie Prince
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC) of the Technische Universitat Dresden (TUD), Dresden, Germany.
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2
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Li D, Dewer Y, Qu C, Li F, Luo C. Metabolomics Profiling and AKR Characterization During Paurometabolous Development of Corythucha ciliata (Hemiptera: Tingidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2019; 19:16. [PMID: 31830272 PMCID: PMC6901127 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iez117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The sycamore lace bug, Corythucha ciliata (Say) is an invasive pest infesting trees of the genus Platanus. Both adults and nymphs damage the foliage of sycamore trees. Nymphs cannot survive in low temperatures; however, the sycamore lace bug overwinters as adults. In this study, we analyzed the metabolite profiles of this pest to determine significantly regulated metabolites during paurometabolous development from nymphs to adults. The identification of metabolites is essential to convert analytical data into meaningful biological knowledge. A total of 62 metabolites were identified using GC-MS. Among them, 29 different metabolites showed differences in content among nymphs, adult females (AF), and adult males (AM). Five of the 29 metabolites, including caffeic acid, D-glucose, D-mannose, glycerol and aminooxyacetic acid, were significantly increased and nine of them were significantly decreased during the developmental stages from nymph to adult. In addition, we identified three novel aldo-keto reductase (AKR) genes that may play a significant role in the control of glycerol biosynthesis. Moreover, the characteristics and expression levels of these genes were analyzed. This study will provide us with the necessary information to improve our understanding of the changes in metabolites in C. ciliata during paurometabolous development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Du Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Institute of Plant and Environment Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Youssef Dewer
- Bioassay Research Department, Central Agricultural Pesticide Laboratory, Sabahia Plant Protection Research Station, Agricultural Research Center, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Cheng Qu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Institute of Plant and Environment Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fengqi Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Institute of Plant and Environment Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Luo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Institute of Plant and Environment Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
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Nusantara Putra FJ, Putri SP, Fukusaki E. Metabolomics-based profiling of three terminal alkene-producing Jeotgalicoccus spp. during different growth phase. J Biosci Bioeng 2019; 127:52-58. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2018.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Metabolomics: State-of-the-Art Technologies and Applications on Drosophila melanogaster. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1076:257-276. [PMID: 29951824 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-0529-0_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Metabolomics is one of the latest "omics" technology concerned with the high-throughput identification and quantification of metabolites, the final products of cellular processes. The revealed data provide an instantaneous snapshot of an organism's metabolic pathways, which can be used to explain its phenotype or physiology. On the other hand, Drosophila has shown its power in studying metabolism and related diseases. At this stage, we have the state-of-the-art knowledge in place: a potential candidate to study cellular metabolism (Drosophila melanogaster) and a powerful methodology for metabolic network decipherer (metabolomics). Yet missing is advanced metabolomics technologies like isotope-assisted metabolomics optimized for Drosophila. In this chapter, we will discuss on the current status and future perspectives in technologies and applications of Drosophila metabolomics.
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Li H, Tennessen JM. Methods for studying the metabolic basis of Drosophila development. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2017; 6:10.1002/wdev.280. [PMID: 28556549 PMCID: PMC5561480 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2017] [Revised: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The field of metabolic research has experienced an unexpected renaissance. While this renewed interest in metabolism largely originated in response to the global increase in diabetes and obesity, studies of metabolic regulation now represent the frontier of many biomedical fields. This trend is especially apparent in developmental biology, where metabolism influences processes ranging from stem cell differentiation and tissue growth to sexual maturation and reproduction. In this regard, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as a powerful tool for dissecting conserved mechanisms that underlie developmental metabolism, often with a level of detail that is simply not possible in other animals. Here we describe why the fly is an ideal system for exploring the relationship between metabolism and development, and outline a basic experimental strategy for conducting these studies. WIREs Dev Biol 2017, 6:e280. doi: 10.1002/wdev.280 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongde Li
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 East Third Street, Bloomington, IN 47405
| | - Jason M. Tennessen
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 East Third Street, Bloomington, IN 47405
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6
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Nitzsche R, Günay-Esiyok Ö, Tischer M, Zagoriy V, Gupta N. A plant/fungal-type phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase located in the parasite mitochondrion ensures glucose-independent survival of Toxoplasma gondii. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:15225-15239. [PMID: 28726641 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.802702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is considered to be one of the most successful intracellular pathogens, because it can reproduce in varied nutritional milieus, encountered in diverse host cell types of essentially any warm-blooded organism. Our earlier work demonstrated that the acute (tachyzoite) stage of T. gondii depends on cooperativity of glucose and glutamine catabolism to meet biosynthetic demands. Either of these two nutrients can sustain the parasite survival; however, what determines the metabolic plasticity has not yet been resolved. Here, we reveal two discrete phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) enzymes in the parasite, one of which resides in the mitochondrion (TgPEPCKmt), whereas the other protein is not expressed in tachyzoites (TgPEPCKnet). Parasites with an intact glycolysis can tolerate genetic deletions of TgPEPCKmt as well as of TgPEPCKnet, indicating their nonessential roles for tachyzoite survival. TgPEPCKnet can also be ablated in a glycolysis-deficient mutant, while TgPEPCKmt is refractory to deletion. Consistent with this, the lytic cycle of a conditional mutant of TgPEPCKmt in the glycolysis-impaired strain was aborted upon induced repression of the mitochondrial isoform, demonstrating its essential role for the glucose-independent survival of parasites. Isotope-resolved metabolomics of the conditional mutant revealed defective flux of glutamine-derived carbon into RNA-bound ribose sugar as well as metabolites associated with gluconeogenesis, entailing a critical nodal role of PEPCKmt in linking catabolism of glucose and glutamine with anabolic pathways. Our data also suggest a homeostatic function ofTgPEPCKmt in cohesive operation of glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle in a normal glucose-replete milieu. Conversely, we found that the otherwise integrative enzyme pyruvate carboxylase (TgPyC) is dispensable not only in glycolysis-competent but also in glycolysis-deficient tachyzoites despite a mitochondrial localization. Last but not least, the observed physiology of T. gondii tachyzoites appears to phenocopy cancer cells, which holds promise for developing common therapeutics against both threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Nitzsche
- From the Department of Molecular Parasitology, Humboldt University, 10115 Berlin, Germany and
| | - Özlem Günay-Esiyok
- From the Department of Molecular Parasitology, Humboldt University, 10115 Berlin, Germany and
| | - Maximilian Tischer
- From the Department of Molecular Parasitology, Humboldt University, 10115 Berlin, Germany and
| | | | - Nishith Gupta
- From the Department of Molecular Parasitology, Humboldt University, 10115 Berlin, Germany and
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Cox JE, Thummel CS, Tennessen JM. Metabolomic Studies in Drosophila. Genetics 2017; 206:1169-1185. [PMID: 28684601 PMCID: PMC5500124 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.200014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolomic analysis provides a powerful new tool for studies of Drosophila physiology. This approach allows investigators to detect thousands of chemical compounds in a single sample, representing the combined contributions of gene expression, enzyme activity, and environmental context. Metabolomics has been used for a wide range of studies in Drosophila, often providing new insights into gene function and metabolic state that could not be obtained using any other approach. In this review, we survey the uses of metabolomic analysis since its entry into the field. We also cover the major methods used for metabolomic studies in Drosophila and highlight new directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Cox
- Department of Biochemistry and
- The Metabolomics Core Research Facility, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
| | - Carl S Thummel
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
| | - Jason M Tennessen
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
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Potential Direct Regulators of the Drosophila yellow Gene Identified by Yeast One-Hybrid and RNAi Screens. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2016; 6:3419-3430. [PMID: 27527791 PMCID: PMC5068961 DOI: 10.1534/g3.116.032607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The regulation of gene expression controls development, and changes in this regulation often contribute to phenotypic evolution. Drosophila pigmentation is a model system for studying evolutionary changes in gene regulation, with differences in expression of pigmentation genes such as yellow that correlate with divergent pigment patterns among species shown to be caused by changes in cis- and trans-regulation. Currently, much more is known about the cis-regulatory component of divergent yellow expression than the trans-regulatory component, in part because very few trans-acting regulators of yellow expression have been identified. This study aims to improve our understanding of the trans-acting control of yellow expression by combining yeast-one-hybrid and RNAi screens for transcription factors binding to yellow cis-regulatory sequences and affecting abdominal pigmentation in adults, respectively. Of the 670 transcription factors included in the yeast-one-hybrid screen, 45 showed evidence of binding to one or more sequence fragments tested from the 5′ intergenic and intronic yellow sequences from D. melanogaster, D. pseudoobscura, and D. willistoni, suggesting that they might be direct regulators of yellow expression. Of the 670 transcription factors included in the yeast-one-hybrid screen, plus another TF previously shown to be genetically upstream of yellow, 125 were also tested using RNAi, and 32 showed altered abdominal pigmentation. Nine transcription factors were identified in both screens, including four nuclear receptors related to ecdysone signaling (Hr78, Hr38, Hr46, and Eip78C). This finding suggests that yellow expression might be directly controlled by nuclear receptors influenced by ecdysone during early pupal development when adult pigmentation is forming.
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Wan PJ, Yang L, Yuan SY, Tang YH, Fu Q, Li GQ. RNA interference-aided knockdown of a putative saccharopine dehydrogenase leads to abnormal ecdysis in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae). BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2015; 105:390-398. [PMID: 25908053 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485315000231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens is a serious phloem-feeding pest of rice in China. The current study focuses on a saccharopine dehydrogenase (SDH) that catalyzes the penultimate reaction in biosynthesis of the amino acid lysine (Lys), which plays a role in insect growth and carnitine production (as a substrate). The protein, provisionally designated as NlylsSDH [a SDH derived from yeast-like symbiont (YLS) in N. lugens], had a higher transcript level in abdomens, compared with heads, wings, legs and thoraces, which agrees with YLS distribution in N. lugens. Ingestion of Nlylssdh targeted double-stranded RNA (dsNlylssdh) for 5, 10 and 15 days decreased the mRNA abundance in the hoppers by 47, 70 and 31%, respectively, comparing with those ingesting normal or dsegfp diets. Nlylssdh knockdown slightly decreased the body weights, significantly delayed the development of females, and killed approximately 30% of the nymphs. Moreover, some surviving adults showed two apparent phenotypic defects: wing deformation and nymphal cuticles remained on tips of the legs and abdomens. The brachypterours/macropterours and sex ratios (female/male) of the adults on the dsRNA diet were lowered compared with the adults on diets without dsRNA. These results suggest that Nlylssdh encodes a functional SDH protein. The adverse effect of Nlylssdh knockdown on N. lugens implies the importance of Lys in hopper development. This study provides a proof of concept example that Nlylssdh could serve as a possible dsRNA-based pesticide for planthopper control.
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Affiliation(s)
- P-J Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology,China National Rice Research Institute,Hangzhou 310006,China
| | - L Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology,China National Rice Research Institute,Hangzhou 310006,China
| | - S-Y Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology,China National Rice Research Institute,Hangzhou 310006,China
| | - Y-H Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology,China National Rice Research Institute,Hangzhou 310006,China
| | - Q Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology,China National Rice Research Institute,Hangzhou 310006,China
| | - G-Q Li
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests,College of Plant Protection,Nanjing Agricultural University,Nanjing 210095,China
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Snart CJ, Hardy IC, Barrett DA. Entometabolomics: applications of modern analytical techniques to insect studies. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA 2015; 155:1-17. [PMID: 27478203 PMCID: PMC4949644 DOI: 10.1111/eea.12281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Metabolomic analyses can reveal associations between an organism's metabolome and further aspects of its phenotypic state, an attractive prospect for many life-sciences researchers. The metabolomic approach has been employed in some, but not many, insect study systems, starting in 1990 with the evaluation of the metabolic effects of parasitism on moth larvae. Metabolomics has now been applied to a variety of aspects of insect biology, including behaviour, infection, temperature stress responses, CO 2 sedation, and bacteria-insect symbiosis. From a technical and reporting standpoint, these studies have adopted a range of approaches utilising established experimental methodologies. Here, we review current literature and evaluate the metabolomic approaches typically utilised by entomologists. We suggest that improvements can be made in several areas, including sampling procedures, the reduction in sampling and equipment variation, the use of sample extracts, statistical analyses, confirmation, and metabolite identification. Overall, it is clear that metabolomics can identify correlations between phenotypic states and underlying cellular metabolism that previous, more targeted, approaches are incapable of measuring. The unique combination of untargeted global analyses with high-resolution quantitative analyses results in a tool with great potential for future entomological investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles J.P. Snart
- Centre for Analytical BioscienceSchool of PharmacyUniversity of NottinghamUniversity Park CampusNottinghamNG7 2RDUK
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of NottinghamSutton Bonington Campus, LoughboroughLeicestershireLE12 5RDUK
| | - Ian C.W. Hardy
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of NottinghamSutton Bonington Campus, LoughboroughLeicestershireLE12 5RDUK
| | - David A. Barrett
- Centre for Analytical BioscienceSchool of PharmacyUniversity of NottinghamUniversity Park CampusNottinghamNG7 2RDUK
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Daskalaki E, Blackburn G, Kalna G, Zhang T, Anthony N, Watson DG. A study of the effects of exercise on the urinary metabolome using normalisation to individual metabolic output. Metabolites 2015; 5:119-39. [PMID: 25734341 PMCID: PMC4381293 DOI: 10.3390/metabo5010119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Revised: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aerobic exercise, in spite of its multi-organ benefit and potent effect on the metabolome, has yet to be investigated comprehensively via an untargeted metabolomics technology. We conducted an exploratory untargeted liquid chromatography mass spectrometry study to investigate the effects of a one-h aerobic exercise session in the urine of three physically active males. Individual urine samples were collected over a 37-h protocol (two pre-exercise and eight post-exercise). Raw data were subjected to a variety of normalization techniques, with the most effective measure dividing each metabolite by the sum response of that metabolite for each individual across the 37-h protocol expressed as a percentage. This allowed the metabolite responses to be plotted on a normalised scale. Our results highlight significant metabolites located in the following systems: purine pathway, tryptophan metabolism, carnitine metabolism, cortisol metabolism, androgen metabolism, amino acid oxidation, as well as metabolites from the gastrointestinal microbiome. Many of the significant changes observed in our pilot investigation mirror previous research studies, of various methodological designs, published within the last 15 years, although they have never been reported at the same time in a single study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelia Daskalaki
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
| | - Gavin Blackburn
- Glasgow Polyomics, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Glasgow G61 1 BD, UK.
| | - Gabriela Kalna
- The Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Garscube Estate, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK.
| | - Tong Zhang
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
| | - Nahoum Anthony
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
| | - David G Watson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
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12
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Tennessen JM, Barry WE, Cox J, Thummel CS. Methods for studying metabolism in Drosophila. Methods 2014; 68:105-15. [PMID: 24631891 PMCID: PMC4048761 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2014.02.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 275] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2014] [Revised: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent research using Drosophila melanogaster has seen a resurgence in studies of metabolism and physiology. This review focuses on major methods used to conduct this work. These include protocols for dietary interventions, measurements of triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, trehalose, and glycogen, stains for lipid detection, and the use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to detect major polar metabolites. It is our hope that this will provide a useful framework for both new and current researchers in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Tennessen
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-5330, USA
| | - William E Barry
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-5330, USA
| | - James Cox
- Department of Biochemistry and the Metabolomics Core Research Facility, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Carl S Thummel
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-5330, USA.
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Coordinated metabolic transitions during Drosophila embryogenesis and the onset of aerobic glycolysis. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2014; 4:839-50. [PMID: 24622332 PMCID: PMC4025483 DOI: 10.1534/g3.114.010652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Rapidly proliferating cells such as cancer cells and embryonic stem cells rely on a specialized metabolic program known as aerobic glycolysis, which supports biomass production from carbohydrates. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster also utilizes aerobic glycolysis to support the rapid growth that occurs during larval development. Here we use singular value decomposition analysis of modENCODE RNA-seq data combined with GC-MS-based metabolomic analysis to analyze the changes in gene expression and metabolism that occur during Drosophila embryogenesis, spanning the onset of aerobic glycolysis. Unexpectedly, we find that the most common pattern of co-expressed genes in embryos includes the global switch to glycolytic gene expression that occurs midway through embryogenesis. In contrast to the canonical aerobic glycolytic pathway, however, which is accompanied by reduced mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, the expression of genes involved in the tricarboxylic cycle (TCA cycle) and the electron transport chain are also upregulated at this time. Mitochondrial activity, however, appears to be attenuated, as embryos exhibit a block in the TCA cycle that results in elevated levels of citrate, isocitrate, and α-ketoglutarate. We also find that genes involved in lipid breakdown and β-oxidation are upregulated prior to the transcriptional initiation of glycolysis, but are downregulated before the onset of larval development, revealing coordinated use of lipids and carbohydrates during development. These observations demonstrate the efficient use of nutrient stores to support embryonic development, define sequential metabolic transitions during this stage, and demonstrate striking similarities between the metabolic state of late-stage fly embryos and tumor cells.
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