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Musselman LP, Truong HG, DiAngelo JR. Transcriptional Control of Lipid Metabolism. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38782870 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2024_808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Transcriptional control of lipid metabolism uses a framework that parallels the control of lipid metabolism at the protein or enzyme level, via feedback and feed-forward mechanisms. Increasing the substrates for an enzyme often increases enzyme gene expression, for example. A paucity of product can likewise potentiate transcription or stability of the mRNA encoding the enzyme or enzymes needed to produce it. In addition, changes in second messengers or cellular energy charge can act as on/off switches for transcriptional regulators to control transcript (and protein) abundance. Insects use a wide range of DNA-binding transcription factors (TFs) that sense changes in the cell and its environment to produce the appropriate change in transcription at gene promoters. These TFs work together with histones, spliceosomes, and additional RNA processing factors to ultimately regulate lipid metabolism. In this chapter, we will first focus on the important TFs that control lipid metabolism in insects. Next, we will describe non-TF regulators of insect lipid metabolism such as enzymes that modify acetylation and methylation status, transcriptional coactivators, splicing factors, and microRNAs. To conclude, we consider future goals for studying the mechanisms underlying the control of lipid metabolism in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Palanker Musselman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Huy G Truong
- Division of Science, Pennsylvania State University, Berks Campus, Reading, PA, USA
| | - Justin R DiAngelo
- Division of Science, Pennsylvania State University, Berks Campus, Reading, PA, USA.
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2
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Mora I, Puiggròs F, Serras F, Gil-Cardoso K, Escoté X. Emerging models for studying adipose tissue metabolism. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 223:116123. [PMID: 38484851 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Understanding adipose metabolism is essential for addressing obesity and related health concerns. However, the ethical and scientific pressure to animal testing, aligning with the 3Rs, has triggered the implementation of diverse alternative models for analysing anomalies in adipose metabolism. In this review, we will address this issue from various perspectives. Traditional adipocyte cell cultures, whether animal or human-derived, offer a fundamental starting point. These systems have their merits but may not fully replicate in vivo complexity. Established cell lines are valuable for high-throughput screening but may lack the authenticity of primary-derived adipocytes, which closely mimic native tissue. To enhance model sophistication, spheroids have been introduced. These three-dimensional cultures better mimicking the in vivo microenvironment, enabling the study of intricate cell-cell interactions, gene expression, and metabolic pathways. Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) platforms take this further by integrating multiple cell types into microfluidic devices, simulating tissue-level functions. Adipose-OoC (AOoC) provides dynamic environments with applications spanning drug testing to personalized medicine and nutrition. Beyond in vitro models, genetically amenable organisms (Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and zebrafish larvae) have become powerful tools for investigating fundamental molecular mechanisms that govern adipose tissue functions. Their genetic tractability allows for efficient manipulation and high-throughput studies. In conclusion, a diverse array of research models is crucial for deciphering adipose metabolism. By leveraging traditional adipocyte cell cultures, primary-derived cells, spheroids, AOoCs, and lower organism models, we bridge the gap between animal testing and a more ethical, scientifically robust, and human-relevant approach, advancing our understanding of adipose tissue metabolism and its impact on health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignasi Mora
- Brudy Technology S.L., 08006 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Puiggròs
- Eurecat, Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya, Biotechnology Area, 43204 Reus, Spain
| | - Florenci Serras
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, School of Biology, University of Barcelona and Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Katherine Gil-Cardoso
- Eurecat, Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya, Nutrition and Health Unit, 43204 Reus, Spain
| | - Xavier Escoté
- Eurecat, Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya, Nutrition and Health Unit, 43204 Reus, Spain.
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3
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Maruko A, Iijima KM, Ando K. Dissecting the daily feeding pattern: Peripheral CLOCK/CYCLE generate the feeding/fasting episodes and neuronal molecular clocks synchronize them. iScience 2023; 26:108164. [PMID: 37915609 PMCID: PMC10616324 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
A 24-h rhythm of feeding behavior, or synchronized feeding/fasting episodes during the day, is crucial for survival. Internal clocks and light input regulate rhythmic behaviors, but how they generate feeding rhythms is not fully understood. Here we aimed to dissect the molecular pathways that generate daily feeding patterns. By measuring the semidiurnal amount of food ingested by single flies, we demonstrate that the generation of feeding rhythms under light:dark conditions requires quasimodo (qsm) but not molecular clocks. Under constant darkness, rhythmic feeding patterns consist of two components: CLOCK (CLK) in digestive/metabolic tissues generating feeding/fasting episodes, and the molecular clock in neurons synchronizing them to subjective daytime. Although CLK is a part of the molecular clock, the generation of feeding/fasting episodes by CLK in metabolic tissues was independent of molecular clock machinery. Our results revealed novel functions of qsm and CLK in feeding rhythms in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Maruko
- Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Koichi M. Iijima
- Department of Neurogenetics, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Aichi 474-8511, Japan
- Department of Experimental Gerontology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8603, Japan
| | - Kanae Ando
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
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4
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Tonk-Rügen M, Vilcinskas A, Wagner AE. Insect Models in Nutrition Research. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1668. [PMID: 36421682 PMCID: PMC9687203 DOI: 10.3390/biom12111668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 09/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Insects are the most diverse organisms on earth, accounting for ~80% of all animals. They are valuable as model organisms, particularly in the context of genetics, development, behavior, neurobiology and evolutionary biology. Compared to other laboratory animals, insects are advantageous because they are inexpensive to house and breed in large numbers, making them suitable for high-throughput testing. They also have a short life cycle, facilitating the analysis of generational effects, and they fulfil the 3R principle (replacement, reduction and refinement). Many insect genomes have now been sequenced, highlighting their genetic and physiological similarities with humans. These factors also make insects favorable as whole-animal high-throughput models in nutritional research. In this review, we discuss the impact of insect models in nutritional science, focusing on studies investigating the role of nutrition in metabolic diseases and aging/longevity. We also consider food toxicology and the use of insects to study the gut microbiome. The benefits of insects as models to study the relationship between nutrition and biological markers of fitness and longevity can be exploited to improve human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miray Tonk-Rügen
- Institute of Nutritional Science, Justus Liebig University, Wilhelmstrasse 20, 35392 Giessen, Germany
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Branch of Bioresources, Ohlebergsweg 12, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Anika E. Wagner
- Institute of Nutritional Science, Justus Liebig University, Wilhelmstrasse 20, 35392 Giessen, Germany
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5
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Ratnaparkhi A, Sudhakaran J. Neural pathways in nutrient sensing and insulin signaling. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1002183. [PMID: 36439265 PMCID: PMC9691681 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1002183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Nutrient sensing and metabolic homeostasis play an important role in the proper growth and development of an organism, and also in the energy intensive process of reproduction. Signals in response to nutritional and metabolic status is received and integrated by the brain to ensure homeostasis. In Drosophila, the fat body is one of the key organs involved in energy and nutrient sensing, storage and utilization. It also relays the nutritional status of the animal to the brain, activating specific circuits which modulate the synthesis and release of insulin-like peptides to regulate metabolism. Here, we review the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in nutrient sensing with an emphasis on the neural pathways that modulate this process and discuss some of the open questions that need to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Ratnaparkhi
- Department of Developmental Biology, MACS-Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, India
- Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
| | - Jyothish Sudhakaran
- Department of Developmental Biology, MACS-Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, India
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6
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Infection increases activity via Toll dependent and independent mechanisms in Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010826. [PMID: 36129961 PMCID: PMC9529128 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Host behavioural changes are among the most apparent effects of infection. ‘Sickness behaviour’ can involve a variety of symptoms, including anorexia, depression, and changed activity levels. Here, using a real-time tracking and behavioural profiling platform, we show that in Drosophila melanogaster, several systemic bacterial infections cause significant increases in physical activity, and that the extent of this activity increase is a predictor of survival time in some lethal infections. Using multiple bacteria and D. melanogaster immune and activity mutants, we show that increased activity is driven by at least two different mechanisms. Increased activity after infection with Micrococcus luteus, a Gram-positive bacterium rapidly cleared by the immune response, strictly requires the Toll ligand spätzle. In contrast, increased activity after infection with Francisella novicida, a Gram-negative bacterium that cannot be cleared by the immune response, is entirely independent of both Toll and the parallel IMD pathway. The existence of multiple signalling mechanisms by which bacterial infections drive increases in physical activity implies that this effect may be an important aspect of the host response. Sickness behaviours are often observed during infection. Animals have been shown to change their feeding, mating, social and resting (sleeping) behaviours in response to infection. We show here that fruit-flies infected with bacteria respond by increasing their physical activity and decreasing the amount of time spent sleeping. This increase in activity is seen in some, but not all, bacterial infections, and appears to be driven by at least two different mechanisms: with some bacteria, activating the immune response is the only requirement to induce increased activity, while other bacteria induce increased activity independently of known immune detection pathways. The biological role of increased activity is unclear; flies in the wild may be driven to flee sites where infection risk or pathogen burden is high. Alternatively, increased activity could serve a less direct anti-microbial function. For example, active animals may be more likely to encounter potential mates or food resource.
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Roy S, Bhowmik DR, Begum R, Amin MT, Islam MA, Ahmed F, Hossain MS. Aspirin attenuates the expression of adhesion molecules, risk of obesity, and adipose tissue inflammation in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat 2022; 162:106664. [PMID: 35843503 DOI: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2022.106664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of obesity is increasing at an alarming rate and keeps on being one of the significant challenges of this century. Obesity promotes adipose tissue hypertrophy and causes the release of different pro-inflammatory cytokines, playing a significant role in the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome. Aspirin is known as a potent anti-inflammatory drug, but its role in adipogenesis, adipocyte-specific inflammation, and metabolic syndrome is not well characterized. Thus, in this experiment, we aimed to determine the effect of low-dose aspirin on obesity, obesity-induced inflammation, and metabolic syndrome. High-fat diet-induced obese female mice (Swiss Albino) were used in our study. Mice were fed on a normal diet, a high-fat diet, and a low dose of aspirin (LDA) in the presence of a high-fat diet for 11 weeks. Body weight, lipid profile, adipose tissue size, and inflammatory status were analyzed after that period. The ∆∆CT method was used to calculate the relative mRNA expression of target genes. Treatment with a low dose of aspirin resulted in a significant reduction of body weight, visceral fat mass and serum total cholesterols, serum and adipose tissue triglycerides, and blood glucose levels in high-fat diet-induced obese mice compared to the untreated obese group. Consistent with these biochemical results, a significant reduction in mRNA expression of different genes like PPARγ, GLUT4, IL-6, TNFα, MCP-1, ICAM-I, and VCAM-I associated with adipogenesis and inflammation were noticed. Overall, current study findings indicate that low-dose aspirin reduces obesity, hyperlipidemia, adipocyte-specific inflammation, and metabolic syndrome in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Roy
- Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhlai 3814, Bangladesh
| | - Dipty Rani Bhowmik
- Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhlai 3814, Bangladesh
| | - Rahima Begum
- Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhlai 3814, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Tohidul Amin
- Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhlai 3814, Bangladesh
| | - Md Aminul Islam
- Department of Microbiology, Noakahli Science and Technology University, Noakhali 3814, Bangladesh
| | - Firoz Ahmed
- Department of Microbiology, Noakahli Science and Technology University, Noakhali 3814, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Salim Hossain
- Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhlai 3814, Bangladesh.
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8
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Roy S, Ripon MAR, Begum R, Bhowmik DR, Amin MT, Islam MA, Ahmed F, Hossain MS. Arachidonic acid supplementation attenuates adipocyte inflammation but not adiposity in high fat diet induced obese mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 608:90-95. [PMID: 35397428 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.03.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Obesity is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation and has a remarkable role in the pathophysiology of metabolic complications. In triggering these inflammatory responses, the arachidonic acid (AA) cascade plays a key role. However, there is a lack of data on how supplementary AA would affect obesity, adipose tissue inflammation, and the AA cascade in obesity. This study aims to investigate how AA supplementation affects obesity, adipocyte morphology, inflammation, and AA cascade signaling. Male Swiss Albino mice were used in our experiment. The mice were fed high-fat diets to induce obesity, and these obese mice were treated with two different doses of AA for 3 weeks. A normal diet non-obese group and an untreated obese group were kept as controls. Bodyweight and daily food intake data were recorded during that period. After the treatment period, blood serum and white adipose tissue of the experimental mice were collected for colorimetric lipid profile tests, histology, and mRNA extraction. The ΔΔCT method was employed for calculating the relative mRNA expression of target genes. The findings of our study suggest that AA has no significant effects on body weight, visceral adiposity, adipose tissue morphology, and serum lipid profile. However, AA treatment has resulted in a significant down-regulation of pro-inflammatory markers as well as the COX pathway. Besides, up-regulation of 12/15-LOX has been observed, indicating the metabolism pathway of supplementary AA through the LOX pathway. Our findings indicate that AA treatment may not provide significant benefits in terms of body weight, visceral fat mass, or serum lipid profile. However, it has effectively alleviated obesity-induced adipocyte inflammation in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Roy
- Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, 3814, Bangladesh
| | - Md Abdur Rahman Ripon
- Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, 3814, Bangladesh
| | - Rahima Begum
- Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, 3814, Bangladesh
| | - Dipty Rani Bhowmik
- Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, 3814, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Tohidul Amin
- Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, 3814, Bangladesh
| | - Md Aminul Islam
- Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, 3814, Bangladesh
| | - Firoz Ahmed
- Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, 3814, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Salim Hossain
- Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, 3814, Bangladesh.
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9
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Eickelberg V, Lüersen K, Staats S, Rimbach G. Phenotyping of Drosophila Melanogaster-A Nutritional Perspective. Biomolecules 2022; 12:221. [PMID: 35204721 PMCID: PMC8961528 DOI: 10.3390/biom12020221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The model organism Drosophila melanogaster was increasingly applied in nutrition research in recent years. A range of methods are available for the phenotyping of D. melanogaster, which are outlined in the first part of this review. The methods include determinations of body weight, body composition, food intake, lifespan, locomotor activity, reproductive capacity and stress tolerance. In the second part, the practical application of the phenotyping of flies is demonstrated via a discussion of obese phenotypes in response to high-sugar diet (HSD) and high-fat diet (HFD) feeding. HSD feeding and HFD feeding are dietary interventions that lead to an increase in fat storage and affect carbohydrate-insulin homeostasis, lifespan, locomotor activity, reproductive capacity and stress tolerance. Furthermore, studies regarding the impacts of HSD and HFD on the transcriptome and metabolome of D. melanogaster are important for relating phenotypic changes to underlying molecular mechanisms. Overall, D. melanogaster was demonstrated to be a valuable model organism with which to examine the pathogeneses and underlying molecular mechanisms of common chronic metabolic diseases in a nutritional context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Eickelberg
- Department of Food Science, Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, University of Kiel, Hermann-Rodewald-Strasse 6-8, D-24118 Kiel, Germany; (K.L.); (S.S.); (G.R.)
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10
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Agrawal N, Lawler K, Davidson CM, Keogh JM, Legg R, Barroso I, Farooqi IS, Brand AH. Predicting novel candidate human obesity genes and their site of action by systematic functional screening in Drosophila. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001255. [PMID: 34748544 PMCID: PMC8575313 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of human obesity-associated genes can reveal new mechanisms to target for weight loss therapy. Genetic studies of obese individuals and the analysis of rare genetic variants can identify novel obesity-associated genes. However, establishing a functional relationship between these candidate genes and adiposity remains a significant challenge. We uncovered a large number of rare homozygous gene variants by exome sequencing of severely obese children, including those from consanguineous families. By assessing the function of these genes in vivo in Drosophila, we identified 4 genes, not previously linked to human obesity, that regulate adiposity (itpr, dachsous, calpA, and sdk). Dachsous is a transmembrane protein upstream of the Hippo signalling pathway. We found that 3 further members of the Hippo pathway, fat, four-jointed, and hippo, also regulate adiposity and that they act in neurons, rather than in adipose tissue (fat body). Screening Hippo pathway genes in larger human cohorts revealed rare variants in TAOK2 associated with human obesity. Knockdown of Drosophila tao increased adiposity in vivo demonstrating the strength of our approach in predicting novel human obesity genes and signalling pathways and their site of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Agrawal
- The Gurdon Institute and Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Lawler
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine M. Davidson
- The Gurdon Institute and Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Julia M. Keogh
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Legg
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Inês Barroso
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - I. Sadaf Farooqi
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea H. Brand
- The Gurdon Institute and Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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11
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Wat LW, Chowdhury ZS, Millington JW, Biswas P, Rideout EJ. Sex determination gene transformer regulates the male-female difference in Drosophila fat storage via the adipokinetic hormone pathway. eLife 2021; 10:e72350. [PMID: 34672260 PMCID: PMC8594944 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in whole-body fat storage exist in many species. For example, Drosophila females store more fat than males. Yet, the mechanisms underlying this sex difference in fat storage remain incompletely understood. Here, we identify a key role for sex determination gene transformer (tra) in regulating the male-female difference in fat storage. Normally, a functional Tra protein is present only in females, where it promotes female sexual development. We show that loss of Tra in females reduced whole-body fat storage, whereas gain of Tra in males augmented fat storage. Tra's role in promoting fat storage was largely due to its function in neurons, specifically the Adipokinetic hormone (Akh)-producing cells (APCs). Our analysis of Akh pathway regulation revealed a male bias in APC activity and Akh pathway function, where this sex-biased regulation influenced the sex difference in fat storage by limiting triglyceride accumulation in males. Importantly, Tra loss in females increased Akh pathway activity, and genetically manipulating the Akh pathway rescued Tra-dependent effects on fat storage. This identifies sex-specific regulation of Akh as one mechanism underlying the male-female difference in whole-body triglyceride levels, and provides important insight into the conserved mechanisms underlying sexual dimorphism in whole-body fat storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianna W Wat
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The University of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - Zahid S Chowdhury
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The University of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - Jason W Millington
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The University of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - Puja Biswas
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The University of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - Elizabeth J Rideout
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The University of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
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12
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Disparate regulation of IMD signaling drives sex differences in infection pathology in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2026554118. [PMID: 34341118 PMCID: PMC8364183 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2026554118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in infection outcome are a widely observed phenomenon. While it is known that biological sex can influence an animal’s response to infection, the mechanisms through which these differences emerge are less clear. Here, we describe a mechanism through which heightened regulation of the IMD signaling pathway by female—but not male—Drosophila melanogaster reduces the cost of immune activity at the expense of resistance to bacterial infection. Through the masculinization of the main organ responsible for antimicrobial peptide activity in the fly (fat body), this work demonstrates that this heightened immune regulation is mediated by sex-determining pathways. Male and female animals exhibit differences in infection outcomes. One possible source of sexually dimorphic immunity is the sex-specific costs of immune activity or pathology, but little is known about the independent effects of immune- versus microbe-induced pathology and whether these may differ for the sexes. Here, by measuring metabolic and physiological outputs in Drosophila melanogaster with wild-type and mutant immune responses, we test whether the sexes are differentially impacted by these various sources of pathology and identify a critical regulator of this difference. We find that the sexes exhibit differential immune activity but similar bacteria-derived metabolic pathology. We show that female-specific immune-inducible expression of PGRP-LB, a negative regulator of the immune deficiency (IMD) pathway, enables females to reduce immune activity in response to reductions in bacterial numbers. In the absence of PGRP-LB, females are more resistant to infection, confirming the functional importance of this regulation and suggesting that female-biased immune restriction comes at a cost.
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13
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Botero V, Stanhope BA, Brown EB, Grenci EC, Boto T, Park SJ, King LB, Murphy KR, Colodner KJ, Walker JA, Keene AC, Ja WW, Tomchik SM. Neurofibromin regulates metabolic rate via neuronal mechanisms in Drosophila. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4285. [PMID: 34257279 PMCID: PMC8277851 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24505-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a chronic multisystemic genetic disorder that results from loss of function in the neurofibromin protein. Neurofibromin may regulate metabolism, though the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here we show that neurofibromin regulates metabolic homeostasis in Drosophila via a discrete neuronal circuit. Loss of neurofibromin increases metabolic rate via a Ras GAP-related domain-dependent mechanism, increases feeding homeostatically, and alters lipid stores and turnover kinetics. The increase in metabolic rate is independent of locomotor activity, and maps to a sparse subset of neurons. Stimulating these neurons increases metabolic rate, linking their dynamic activity state to metabolism over short time scales. Our results indicate that neurofibromin regulates metabolic rate via neuronal mechanisms, suggest that cellular and systemic metabolic alterations may represent a pathophysiological mechanism in neurofibromatosis type 1, and provide a platform for investigating the cellular role of neurofibromin in metabolic homeostasis. Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in neurofibromin and associated with disruptions in physiology and behavior. Here the authors show that neurofibromin regulates metabolic homeostasis via a discrete brain circuit in a Drosophila model of NF1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Botero
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Bethany A Stanhope
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Elizabeth B Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Eliza C Grenci
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Tamara Boto
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA.,Department of Physiology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Scarlet J Park
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Lanikea B King
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Keith R Murphy
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Kenneth J Colodner
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, USA
| | - James A Walker
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alex C Keene
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - William W Ja
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Seth M Tomchik
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA.
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14
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Heier C, Klishch S, Stilbytska O, Semaniuk U, Lushchak O. The Drosophila model to interrogate triacylglycerol biology. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2021; 1866:158924. [PMID: 33716135 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2021.158924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The deposition of storage fat in the form of triacylglycerol (TAG) is an evolutionarily conserved strategy to cope with fluctuations in energy availability and metabolic stress. Organismal TAG storage in specialized adipose tissues provides animals a metabolic reserve that sustains survival during development and starvation. On the other hand, excessive accumulation of adipose TAG, defined as obesity, is associated with an increasing prevalence of human metabolic diseases. During the past decade, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, traditionally used in genetics and developmental biology, has been established as a versatile model system to study TAG metabolism and the etiology of lipid-associated metabolic diseases. Similar to humans, Drosophila TAG homeostasis relies on the interplay of organ systems specialized in lipid uptake, synthesis, and processing, which are integrated by an endocrine network of hormones and messenger molecules. Enzymatic formation of TAG from sugar or dietary lipid, its storage in lipid droplets, and its mobilization by lipolysis occur via mechanisms largely conserved between Drosophila and humans. Notably, dysfunctional Drosophila TAG homeostasis occurs in the context of aging, overnutrition, or defective gene function, and entails tissue-specific and organismal pathologies that resemble human disease. In this review, we summarize the physiology and biochemistry of TAG in Drosophila and outline the potential of this organism as a model system to understand the genetic and dietary basis of TAG storage and TAG-related metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Heier
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Humboldtstrasse 50, A-8010 Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria.
| | - Svitlana Klishch
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Department Biochemistry 1, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, 57 Shevchenka str, Ivano-Frankivsk 76018, Ukraine
| | - Olha Stilbytska
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Department Biochemistry 1, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, 57 Shevchenka str, Ivano-Frankivsk 76018, Ukraine
| | - Uliana Semaniuk
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Department Biochemistry 1, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, 57 Shevchenka str, Ivano-Frankivsk 76018, Ukraine
| | - Oleh Lushchak
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Department Biochemistry 1, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, 57 Shevchenka str, Ivano-Frankivsk 76018, Ukraine.
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15
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Singh A, Agrawal N. Deciphering the key mechanisms leading to alteration of lipid metabolism in Drosophila model of Huntington's disease. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2021; 1867:166127. [PMID: 33722743 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited, progressively debilitating disorder marked by prominent degeneration in striatal and cortical brain regions. HD is caused by (CAG)n repeat expansion in huntingtin (HTT) gene that translates into a mutant form of the ubiquitously present Huntingtin (HTT) protein. Extensive metabolic dysfunction coexisting with overt neuropathies has been evidenced in clinical and experimental settings of HD. Body weight loss despite normal to high caloric intake remains a critical determinant of the disease progression and a challenge for therapeutic interventions. In the present study, we intended to monitor the cellular and molecular perturbations in Drosophila, caused by pan-neuronal expression of mHTT (mutant Huntingtin) protein. We found aberrant transcription profile of key lipolytic and lipogenic genes in whole-body of the fly with disease progression. Interestingly, fatbody undergoes extensive alteration of vital cellular processes and eventually surrenders to increased apoptotic cell death in terminal stage of the disease. Extensive mitochondrial dysfunction from early disease stage along with calcium derangement at terminal stage were observed in fatbody, which contribute to its deteriorating integrity. All the mechanisms were monitored progressively, at different disease stages, and many alterations were documented in the early stage itself. Our study hence provides insight into the mechanisms through which neuronal expression of mHTT might be inflicting the profound systemic effects, specifically on lipid metabolism, and may open new therapeutic avenues for alleviation of the multidimensional disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Singh
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Namita Agrawal
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India.
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16
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Mariano V, Achsel T, Bagni C, Kanellopoulos AK. Modelling Learning and Memory in Drosophila to Understand Intellectual Disabilities. Neuroscience 2020; 445:12-30. [PMID: 32730949 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) include a large number of conditions such as Fragile X syndrome, autism spectrum disorders and Down syndrome, among others. They are characterized by limitations in adaptive and social behaviors, as well as intellectual disability (ID). Whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing studies have highlighted a large number of NDD/ID risk genes. To dissect the genetic causes and underlying biological pathways, in vivo experimental validation of the effects of these mutations is needed. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is an ideal model to study NDDs, with highly tractable genetics, combined with simple behavioral and circuit assays, permitting rapid medium-throughput screening of NDD/ID risk genes. Here, we review studies where the use of well-established assays to study mechanisms of learning and memory in Drosophila has permitted insights into molecular mechanisms underlying IDs. We discuss how technologies in the fly model, combined with a high degree of molecular and physiological conservation between flies and mammals, highlight the Drosophila system as an ideal model to study neurodevelopmental disorders, from genetics to behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Mariano
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1005, Switzerland; Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Tilmann Achsel
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1005, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Bagni
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1005, Switzerland; Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy.
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17
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Vincent CM, Simoes da Silva CJ, Wadhawan A, Dionne MS. Origins of Metabolic Pathology in Francisella-Infected Drosophila. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1419. [PMID: 32733472 PMCID: PMC7360822 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The origins and causes of infection pathologies are often not understood. Despite this, the study of infection and immunity relies heavily on the ability to discern between potential sources of pathology. Work in the fruit fly has supported the assumption that mortality resulting from bacterial invasion is largely due to direct host-pathogen interactions, as lower pathogen loads are often associated with reduced pathology, and bacterial load upon death is predictable. However, the mechanisms through which these interactions bring about host death are complex. Here we show that infection with the bacterium Francisella novicida leads to metabolic dysregulation and, using treatment with a bacteriostatic antibiotic, we show that this pathology is the result of direct interaction between host and pathogen. We show that mutants of the immune deficiency immune pathway fail to exhibit similar metabolic dysregulation, supporting the idea that the reallocation of resources for immune-related activities contributes to metabolic dysregulation. Targeted investigation into the cross-talk between immune and metabolic pathways has the potential to illuminate some of this interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal M Vincent
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection and Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carolina J Simoes da Silva
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection and Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ashima Wadhawan
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection and Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marc S Dionne
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection and Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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18
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Wat LW, Chao C, Bartlett R, Buchanan JL, Millington JW, Chih HJ, Chowdhury ZS, Biswas P, Huang V, Shin LJ, Wang LC, Gauthier MPL, Barone MC, Montooth KL, Welte MA, Rideout EJ. A role for triglyceride lipase brummer in the regulation of sex differences in Drosophila fat storage and breakdown. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000595. [PMID: 31961851 PMCID: PMC6994176 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Triglycerides are the major form of stored fat in all animals. One important determinant of whole-body fat storage is whether an animal is male or female. Here, we use Drosophila, an established model for studies on triglyceride metabolism, to gain insight into the genes and physiological mechanisms that contribute to sex differences in fat storage. Our analysis of triglyceride storage and breakdown in both sexes identified a role for triglyceride lipase brummer (bmm) in the regulation of sex differences in triglyceride homeostasis. Normally, male flies have higher levels of bmm mRNA both under normal culture conditions and in response to starvation, a lipolytic stimulus. We find that loss of bmm largely eliminates the sex difference in triglyceride storage and abolishes the sex difference in triglyceride breakdown via strongly male-biased effects. Although we show that bmm function in the fat body affects whole-body triglyceride levels in both sexes, in males, we identify an additional role for bmm function in the somatic cells of the gonad and in neurons in the regulation of whole-body triglyceride homeostasis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that lipid droplets are normally present in both the somatic cells of the male gonad and in neurons, revealing a previously unrecognized role for bmm function, and possibly lipid droplets, in these cell types in the regulation of whole-body triglyceride homeostasis. Taken together, our data reveal a role for bmm function in the somatic cells of the gonad and in neurons in the regulation of male–female differences in fat storage and breakdown and identify bmm as a link between the regulation of triglyceride homeostasis and biological sex. An investigation of the genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying sex differences in fat storage and breakdown in the fruit fly Drosophila identifies previously unrecognized sex- and cell type-specific roles for the conserved triglyceride lipase brummer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianna W. Wat
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Charlotte Chao
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Rachael Bartlett
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Justin L. Buchanan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Jason W. Millington
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hui Ju Chih
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Zahid S. Chowdhury
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Puja Biswas
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Vivian Huang
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Leah J. Shin
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lin Chuan Wang
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Marie-Pierre L. Gauthier
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Maria C. Barone
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Kristi L. Montooth
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Michael A. Welte
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth J. Rideout
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail:
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19
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Abstract
Diabetes and obesity are the two notorious metabolic disorders in today's world. Both diabetes and obesity are interlinked with each other and often referred to as 'Diabesity'. It is a complex and multi-organ failure disorder. Thus, many researches and tremendous efforts have been made toward prevention, treatment as well as early detection of diabesity. However, and still, there is a large gap in understanding the etiology as well as treatment of diabesity. Various animal models are also used to decipher the mechanism underlying diabesity. Among all the model organism, recently Drosophila melanogaster is gaining its importance to study diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic disorder. Various experimental methods like histological, biochemical, developmental, and behavioral assays are described in this study to detect diabetes as well as obesity in the fly model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nibedita Nayak
- Neural Developmental Biology Lab, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology , Rourkela , India
| | - Monalisa Mishra
- Neural Developmental Biology Lab, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology , Rourkela , India
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20
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Radlicz C, Chambers A, Olis E, Kuebler D. The addition of a lipid-rich dietary supplement eliminates seizure-like activity and paralysis in the drosophila bang sensitive mutants. Epilepsy Res 2019; 155:106153. [PMID: 31260938 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2019.106153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect that a diet supplemented with KetoCal 4:1, a commercially available dietary formula consisting of a 4:1 ratio of fats to carbohydrates plus proteins, had on the seizure-like activity (SLA) and paralysis normally exhibited by the Drosophila Bang-sensitive (BS) paralytic mutants following mechanical shock. METHODS Given that dietary changes are known to reduce seizures in humans and animal models, three BS mutants, easily-shocked (eas), bang-senseless (parabss), and technical knockout (tko), were fed a standard cornmeal/yeast/sugar diet supplemented with 10% KetoCal 4:1 (KetoCal-sup diet). Newly eclosed BS flies were fed this diet for 3-7 days and the effect this had on SLA, paralysis, locomotor activity, triglyceride levels, and glucose levels was examined. RESULTS All three genotypes displayed significant reductions in SLA and BS sensitivity following mechanical shock. After only 3 days on the diet, 95% of tko flies no longer exhibited SLA or paralysis, and near complete suppression of the BS phenotype was seen by day 7. In the case of eas, there was a 78% reduction of SLA after 3 days on the diet and SLA was completely suppressed by day 7. The parabss flies showed a similar but less robust reduction of SLA on the diet as there was only a 68% reduction of SLA and paralysis following 7 days on the diet. The diet did not suppress activity globally as tko flies had increased basal locomotor activity on the diet while the parabss and eas flies showed no significant change in basal activity. The KetoCal-sup diet did not significantly alter the triglyceride levels or the total glucose levels in the BS mutants. In addition, the SLA and BS suppression was maintained even when the BS mutants were transitioned back to a standard fly diet. CONCLUSIONS The SLA and paralysis associated with the Drosophila BS phenotype can be effectively suppressed by transient exposure to a KetoCal-sup diet. This suppression was not dependent upon long term maintenance of the diet and it was not associated with alterations in total glucose or triglyceride levels in these flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Radlicz
- Department of Biology, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville, OH, United States
| | - Andrew Chambers
- Department of Biology, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville, OH, United States
| | - Emily Olis
- Department of Biology, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville, OH, United States
| | - Daniel Kuebler
- Department of Biology, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville, OH, United States.
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21
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Xu Y, Borcherding AF, Heier C, Tian G, Roeder T, Kühnlein RP. Chronic dysfunction of Stromal interaction molecule by pulsed RNAi induction in fat tissue impairs organismal energy homeostasis in Drosophila. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6989. [PMID: 31061470 PMCID: PMC6502815 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43327-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity is a progressive, chronic disease, which can be caused by long-term miscommunication between organs. It remains challenging to understand how chronic dysfunction in a particular tissue remotely impairs other organs to eventually imbalance organismal energy homeostasis. Here we introduce RNAi Pulse Induction (RiPI) mediated by short hairpin RNA (shRiPI) or double-stranded RNA (dsRiPI) to generate chronic, organ-specific gene knockdown in the adult Drosophila fat tissue. We show that organ-restricted RiPI targeting Stromal interaction molecule (Stim), an essential factor of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE), results in progressive fat accumulation in fly adipose tissue. Chronic SOCE-dependent adipose tissue dysfunction manifests in considerable changes of the fat cell transcriptome profile, and in resistance to the glucagon-like Adipokinetic hormone (Akh) signaling. Remotely, the adipose tissue dysfunction promotes hyperphagia likely via increased secretion of Akh from the neuroendocrine system. Collectively, our study presents a novel in vivo paradigm in the fly, which is widely applicable to model and functionally analyze inter-organ communication processes in chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjun Xu
- Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Research Group Molecular Physiology, Am Faβberg 11, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany.
- Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Department of Molecular Developmental Biology, Am Faβberg 11, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany.
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-85764, Neuherberg, München, Germany.
| | - Annika F Borcherding
- Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Research Group Molecular Physiology, Am Faβberg 11, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Heier
- University of Graz, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Humboldtstrasse 50/2.OG, A-8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Gu Tian
- Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Zoology, Molecular Physiology, 24098, Kiel, Germany
- Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Kiel, Germany
| | - Thomas Roeder
- Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Zoology, Molecular Physiology, 24098, Kiel, Germany
- Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Kiel, Germany
| | - Ronald P Kühnlein
- Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Research Group Molecular Physiology, Am Faβberg 11, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany.
- University of Graz, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Humboldtstrasse 50/2.OG, A-8010, Graz, Austria.
- BioTechMed Graz, Graz, Austria.
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22
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Lee SH, Min KJ. Drosophila melanogaster as a model system in the study of pharmacological interventions in aging. TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE OF AGING 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tma.2019.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
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23
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Millington JW, Rideout EJ. Sex differences in Drosophila development and physiology. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2018.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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24
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Trinh I, Gluscencova OB, Boulianne GL. An in vivo screen for neuronal genes involved in obesity identifies Diacylglycerol kinase as a regulator of insulin secretion. Mol Metab 2018; 19:13-23. [PMID: 30389349 PMCID: PMC6323187 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Obesity is a complex disorder involving many genetic and environmental factors that are required to maintain energy homeostasis. While studies in human populations have led to significant progress in the generation of an obesity gene map and broadened our understanding of the genetic basis of common obesity, there is still a large portion of heritability and etiology that remains unknown. Here, we have used the genetically tractable fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to identify genes/pathways that function in the nervous system to regulate energy balance. Methods We performed an in vivo RNAi screen in Drosophila neurons and assayed for obese or lean phenotypes by measuring changes in levels of stored fats (in the form of triacylglycerides or TAG). Three rounds of screening were performed to verify the reproducibility and specificity of the adiposity phenotypes. Genes that produced >25% increase in TAG (206 in total) underwent a second round of screening to verify their effect on TAG levels by retesting the same RNAi line to validate the phenotype. All remaining hits were screened a third time by testing the TAG levels of additional RNAi lines against the genes of interest to rule out any off-target effects. Results We identified 24 genes including 20 genes that have not been previously associated with energy homeostasis. One identified hit, Diacylglycerol kinase (Dgk), has mammalian homologues that have been implicated in genome-wide association studies for metabolic defects. Downregulation of neuronal Dgk levels increases TAG and carbohydrate levels and these phenotypes can be recapitulated by reducing Dgk levels specifically within the insulin-producing cells that secrete Drosophila insulin-like peptides (dILPs). Conversely, overexpression of kinase-dead Dgk, but not wild-type, decreased circulating dILP2 and dILP5 levels resulting in lower insulin signalling activity. Despite having higher circulating dILP levels, Dgk RNAi flies have decreased pathway activity suggesting that they are insulin-resistant. Conclusion Altogether, we have identified several genes that act within the CNS to regulate energy homeostasis. One of these, Dgk, acts within the insulin-producing cells to regulate the secretion of dILPs and energy homeostasis in Drosophila. RNAi screen in neurons identifies 24 regulators of energy homeostasis. One of the hits, Dgk, affects lipid and carbohydrate homeostasis. Dgk acts within the IPCs to regulate dILP secretion and insulin signalling activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Trinh
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 1A8, Canada; Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, M5G 0A6, Canada.
| | - Oxana B Gluscencova
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, M5G 0A6, Canada.
| | - Gabrielle L Boulianne
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 1A8, Canada; Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, M5G 0A6, Canada.
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25
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Al-Anzi B, Zinn K. Identification and characterization of mushroom body neurons that regulate fat storage in Drosophila. Neural Dev 2018; 13:18. [PMID: 30103787 PMCID: PMC6090720 DOI: 10.1186/s13064-018-0116-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In an earlier study, we identified two neuronal populations, c673a and Fru-GAL4, that regulate fat storage in fruit flies. Both populations partially overlap with a structure in the insect brain known as the mushroom body (MB), which plays a critical role in memory formation. This overlap prompted us to examine whether the MB is also involved in fat storage homeostasis. Methods Using a variety of transgenic agents, we selectively manipulated the neural activity of different portions of the MB and associated neurons to decipher their roles in fat storage regulation. Results Our data show that silencing of MB neurons that project into the α’β’ lobes decreases de novo fatty acid synthesis and causes leanness, while sustained hyperactivation of the same neurons causes overfeeding and produces obesity. The α’β’ neurons oppose and dominate the fat regulating functions of the c673a and Fru-GAL4 neurons. We also show that MB neurons that project into the γ lobe also regulate fat storage, probably because they are a subset of the Fru neurons. We were able to identify input and output neurons whose activity affects fat storage, feeding, and metabolism. The activity of cholinergic output neurons that innervating the β’2 compartment (MBON-β’2mp and MBON-γ5β’2a) regulates food consumption, while glutamatergic output neurons innervating α’ compartments (MBON-γ2α’1 and MBON-α’2) control fat metabolism. Conclusions We identified a new fat storage regulating center, the α’β’ lobes of the MB. We also delineated the neuronal circuits involved in the actions of the α’β’ lobes, and showed that food intake and fat metabolism are controlled by separate sets of postsynaptic neurons that are segregated into different output pathways. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13064-018-0116-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bader Al-Anzi
- Food & Nutrition Program, Environment & Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, 13109, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
| | - Kai Zinn
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
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26
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Park JE, Lee EJ, Kim JK, Song Y, Choi JH, Kang MJ. Flightless-I Controls Fat Storage in Drosophila. Mol Cells 2018; 41:603-611. [PMID: 29890821 PMCID: PMC6030243 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2018.0120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Triglyceride homeostasis is a key process of normal development and is essential for the maintenance of energy metabolism. Dysregulation of this process leads to metabolic disorders such as obesity and hyperlipidemia. Here, we report a novel function of the Drosophila flightless-I (fliI) gene in lipid metabolism. Drosophila fliI mutants were resistant to starvation and showed increased levels of triglycerides in the fat body and intestine, whereas fliI overexpression decreased triglyceride levels. These flies suffered from metabolic stress indicated by increased levels of trehalose in hemolymph and enhanced phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α). Moreover, upregulation of triglycerides via a knockdown of fliI was reversed by a knockdown of desat1 in the fat body of flies. These results indicate that fliI suppresses the expression of desat1, thereby inhibiting the development of obesity; fliI may, thus, serve as a novel therapeutic target in obesity and metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Eun Park
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505,
Korea
| | - Eun Ji Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505,
Korea
| | - Jung Kwan Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919,
Korea
| | - Youngsup Song
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505,
Korea
| | - Jang Hyun Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919,
Korea
| | - Min-Ji Kang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505,
Korea
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Kleinert M, Clemmensen C, Hofmann SM, Moore MC, Renner S, Woods SC, Huypens P, Beckers J, de Angelis MH, Schürmann A, Bakhti M, Klingenspor M, Heiman M, Cherrington AD, Ristow M, Lickert H, Wolf E, Havel PJ, Müller TD, Tschöp MH. Animal models of obesity and diabetes mellitus. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2018; 14:140-162. [PMID: 29348476 DOI: 10.1038/nrendo.2017.161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 527] [Impact Index Per Article: 87.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
More than one-third of the worldwide population is overweight or obese and therefore at risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. In order to mitigate this pandemic, safer and more potent therapeutics are urgently required. This necessitates the continued use of animal models to discover, validate and optimize novel therapeutics for their safe use in humans. In order to improve the transition from bench to bedside, researchers must not only carefully select the appropriate model but also draw the right conclusions. In this Review, we consolidate the key information on the currently available animal models of obesity and diabetes and highlight the advantages, limitations and important caveats of each of these models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Kleinert
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Division of Metabolic Diseases, Department of Medicine, Technische Universität München, D-80333 Munich, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Section of Molecular Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christoffer Clemmensen
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Division of Metabolic Diseases, Department of Medicine, Technische Universität München, D-80333 Munich, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Susanna M Hofmann
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Mary C Moore
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37212, USA
| | - Simone Renner
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilan University München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, D-81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Stephen C Woods
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Metabolic Diseases Institute, 2170 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45237, USA
| | - Peter Huypens
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Johannes Beckers
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Technische Universität München, Chair of Experimental Genetics, D-85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Martin Hrabe de Angelis
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Technische Universität München, Chair of Experimental Genetics, D-85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Annette Schürmann
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Experimental Diabetology, German Institute of Human Nutrition (DIfE), Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, D-14558 Nuthetal, Germany
| | - Mostafa Bakhti
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Martin Klingenspor
- Chair of Molecular Nutritional Medicine, Technische Universität München, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Gregor-Mendel-Str. 2, D-85354 Freising, Germany
- Else Kröner-Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine, Technische Universität München, D-85354 Freising, Germany
- Institute for Food & Health, Technische Universität München, D-85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Mark Heiman
- MicroBiome Therapeutics, 1316 Jefferson Ave, New Orleans, Louisiana 70115, USA
| | - Alan D Cherrington
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37212, USA
| | - Michael Ristow
- Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, CH-8603 Zurich-Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Heiko Lickert
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilan University München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, D-81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Peter J Havel
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Nutrition, 3135 Meyer Hall, University of California, Davis, California 95616-5270, USA
| | - Timo D Müller
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Division of Metabolic Diseases, Department of Medicine, Technische Universität München, D-80333 Munich, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Matthias H Tschöp
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Division of Metabolic Diseases, Department of Medicine, Technische Universität München, D-80333 Munich, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
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Eriksson A, Raczkowska M, Navawongse R, Choudhury D, Stewart JC, Tang YL, Wang Z, Claridge-Chang A. Neuromodulatory circuit effects on Drosophila feeding behaviour and metabolism. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8839. [PMID: 28821829 PMCID: PMC5562903 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08466-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals have evolved to maintain homeostasis in a changing external environment by adapting their internal metabolism and feeding behaviour. Metabolism and behaviour are coordinated by neuromodulation; a number of the implicated neuromodulatory systems are homologous between mammals and the vinegar fly, an important neurogenetic model. We investigated whether silencing fly neuromodulatory networks would elicit coordinated changes in feeding, behavioural activity and metabolism. We employed transgenic lines that allowed us to inhibit broad cellular sets of the dopaminergic, serotonergic, octopaminergic, tyraminergic and neuropeptide F systems. The genetically-manipulated animals were assessed for changes in their overt behavioural responses and metabolism by monitoring eleven parameters: activity; climbing ability; individual feeding; group feeding; food discovery; both fed and starved respiration; fed and starved lipid content; and fed/starved body weight. The results from these 55 experiments indicate that individual neuromodulatory system effects on feeding behaviour, motor activity and metabolism are dissociated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Eriksson
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Marlena Raczkowska
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Rapeechai Navawongse
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Deepak Choudhury
- Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, 71 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 638075, Singapore
| | - James C Stewart
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Yi Ling Tang
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Zhiping Wang
- Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, 71 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 638075, Singapore
| | - Adam Claridge-Chang
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673, Singapore. .,Duke-NUS Medical School, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673, Singapore. .,Department of Physiology, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, 138673, Singapore.
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Martin-Park A, Gomez-Govea MA, Lopez-Monroy B, Treviño-Alvarado VM, Torres-Sepúlveda MDR, López-Uriarte GA, Villanueva-Segura OK, Ruiz-Herrera MDC, Martinez-Fierro MDLL, Delgado-Enciso I, Flores-Suárez AE, White GS, Martínez de Villarreal LE, Ponce-Garcia G, Black WC, Rodríguez-Sanchez IP. Profiles of Amino Acids and Acylcarnitines Related with Insecticide Exposure in Culex quinquefasciatus (Say). PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169514. [PMID: 28085898 PMCID: PMC5234828 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Culex quinquefasciatus Say is a vector of many pathogens of humans, and both domestic and wild animals. Personal protection, reduction of larval habitats, and chemical control are the best ways to reduce mosquito bites and, therefore, the transmission of mosquito-borne pathogens. Currently, to reduce the risk of transmission, the pyrethroids, and other insecticide groups have been extensively used to control both larvae and adult mosquitoes. In this context, amino acids and acylcarnitines have never been associated with insecticide exposure and or insecticide resistance. It has been suggested that changes in acylcarnitines and amino acids profiles could be a powerful diagnostic tool for metabolic alterations. Monitoring these changes could help to better understand the mechanisms involved in insecticide resistance, complementing the strategies for managing this phenomenon in the integrated resistance management. The purpose of the study was to determine the amino acids and acylcarnitines profiles in larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus after the exposure to different insecticides. Bioassays were performed on Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae exposed to the diagnostic doses (DD) of the insecticides chlorpyrifos (0.001 μg/mL), temephos (0.002 μg/mL) and permethrin (0.01 μg/mL). In each sample, we analyzed the profile of 12 amino acids and 31 acylcarnitines by LC-MS/MS. A t-test was used to determine statistically significant differences between groups and corrections of q-values. Results indicates three changes, the amino acids arginine (ARG), free carnitine (C0) and acetyl-carnitine (C2) that could be involved in energy production and insecticide detoxification. We confirmed that concentrations of amino acids and acylcarnitines in Cx. quinquefasciatus vary with respect to different insecticides. The information generated contributes to understand the possible mechanisms and metabolic changes occurring during insecticide exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdiel Martin-Park
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Mayra A. Gomez-Govea
- Departamento de Zoología de Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México
| | - Beatriz Lopez-Monroy
- Departamento de Zoología de Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México
| | | | | | - Graciela Arelí López-Uriarte
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
| | - Olga Karina Villanueva-Segura
- Departamento de Zoología de Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México
| | | | | | - Ivan Delgado-Enciso
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Colima, Colima, México
- Instituto Estatal de Cáncer, Secretaria de Salud de Colima, Colima, México
| | - Adriana E. Flores-Suárez
- Departamento de Zoología de Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México
| | - Gregory S. White
- The Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, Indio, California, United States of America
| | | | - Gustavo Ponce-Garcia
- Departamento de Zoología de Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México
| | - William C. Black
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Irám Pablo Rodríguez-Sanchez
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
- * E-mail:
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30
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Schultzhaus JN, Nixon JJ, Duran JA, Carney GE. Diet alters Drosophila melanogaster mate preference and attractiveness. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Abstract
The brain has an essential role in maintaining a balance between energy intake and expenditure of the body. Deciphering the processes underlying the decision-making for timely feeding of appropriate amounts may improve our understanding of physiological and psychological disorders related to feeding control. Here, we identify a group of appetite-enhancing neurons in a behavioural screen for flies with increased appetite. Manipulating the activity of these neurons, which we name Taotie neurons, induces bidirectional changes in feeding motivation. Long-term stimulation of Taotie neurons results in flies with highly obese phenotypes. Furthermore, we show that the in vivo activity of Taotie neurons in the neuroendocrine region reflects the hunger/satiety states of un-manipulated animals, and that appetitive-enhancing Taotie neurons control the secretion of insulin, a known regulator of feeding behaviour. Thus, our study reveals a new set of neurons regulating feeding behaviour in the high brain regions that represents physiological hunger states and control feeding behaviour in Drosophila.
Feeding control requires the integration and coordination of motivational, sensory and motor circuits in the brain. Here, the authors discover a set of neurons that regulate feeding in Drosophila by promoting insulin release, and whose activity reflects physiological hunger and satiety states of flies.
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Owald D, Lin S, Waddell S. Light, heat, action: neural control of fruit fly behaviour. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2016; 370:20140211. [PMID: 26240426 PMCID: PMC4528823 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2014.0211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as a popular model to investigate fundamental principles of neural circuit operation. The sophisticated genetics and small brain permit a cellular resolution understanding of innate and learned behavioural processes. Relatively recent genetic and technical advances provide the means to specifically and reproducibly manipulate the function of many fly neurons with temporal resolution. The same cellular precision can also be exploited to express genetically encoded reporters of neural activity and cell-signalling pathways. Combining these approaches in living behaving animals has great potential to generate a holistic view of behavioural control that transcends the usual molecular, cellular and systems boundaries. In this review, we discuss these approaches with particular emphasis on the pioneering studies and those involving learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Owald
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Tinsley Building, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SR, UK
| | - Suewei Lin
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Tinsley Building, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SR, UK
| | - Scott Waddell
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Tinsley Building, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SR, UK
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Min S, Chae HS, Jang YH, Choi S, Lee S, Jeong Y, Jones W, Moon S, Kim YJ, Chung J. Identification of a Peptidergic Pathway Critical to Satiety Responses in Drosophila. Curr Biol 2016; 26:814-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2015] [Revised: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Sellami A, Veenstra JA. SIFamide acts on fruitless neurons to modulate sexual behavior in Drosophila melanogaster. Peptides 2015; 74:50-6. [PMID: 26469541 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2015.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Revised: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The Drosophila gene fruitless expresses male and female specific transcription factors which are responsible for the generation of male specific neuronal circuitry for courtship behavior. Mutations in this gene may lead to bisexual behavior in males. Bisexual behavior in males also occurs in the absence of the neuropeptide SIFamide. We show here that the SIFamide neurons do not express fruitless. However, when fruitless neurons are made to express RNAi specific for the SIFamide receptor, male flies engage in bisexual behavior, showing that SIFamide acts on fruitless neurons. If neurons expressing a SIFaR-gal4 transgene are killed by the apoptotic protein reaper or when these neurons express SIFamide receptor RNAi, males also show male-male courtship behavior. We next used this transgene to localize neurons that express the SIFamide receptor. Such neurons are ubiquitously present in the central nervous and we also found two neurons in the uterus that project into the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azza Sellami
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA UMR 5287, 33400 Talence, France
| | - Jan A Veenstra
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA UMR 5287, 33400 Talence, France.
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Garlapow ME, Huang W, Yarboro MT, Peterson KR, Mackay TFC. Quantitative Genetics of Food Intake in Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138129. [PMID: 26375667 PMCID: PMC4574202 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Food intake is an essential animal activity, regulated by neural circuits that motivate food localization, evaluate nutritional content and acceptance or rejection responses through the gustatory system, and regulate neuroendocrine feedback loops that maintain energy homeostasis. Excess food consumption in people is associated with obesity and metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. However, little is known about the genetic basis of natural variation in food consumption. To gain insights in evolutionarily conserved genetic principles that regulate food intake, we took advantage of a model system, Drosophila melanogaster, in which food intake, environmental conditions and genetic background can be controlled precisely. We quantified variation in food intake among 182 inbred, sequenced lines of the Drosophila melanogaster Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP). We found significant genetic variation in the mean and within-line environmental variance of food consumption and observed sexual dimorphism and genetic variation in sexual dimorphism for both food intake traits (mean and variance). We performed genome wide association (GWA) analyses for mean food intake and environmental variance of food intake (using the coefficient of environmental variation, CVE, as the metric for environmental variance) and identified molecular polymorphisms associated with both traits. Validation experiments using RNAi-knockdown confirmed 24 of 31 (77%) candidate genes affecting food intake and/or variance of food intake, and a test cross between selected DGRP lines confirmed a SNP affecting mean food intake identified in the GWA analysis. The majority of the validated candidate genes were novel with respect to feeding behavior, and many had mammalian orthologs implicated in metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E. Garlapow
- Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695–7614, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States of America
- W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States of America
| | - Wen Huang
- Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695–7614, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States of America
- W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States of America
| | - Michael T. Yarboro
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States of America
| | - Kara R. Peterson
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States of America
| | - Trudy F. C. Mackay
- Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695–7614, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States of America
- W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Fear JM, Arbeitman MN, Salomon MP, Dalton JE, Tower J, Nuzhdin SV, McIntyre LM. The Wright stuff: reimagining path analysis reveals novel components of the sex determination hierarchy in Drosophila melanogaster. BMC SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2015; 9:53. [PMID: 26335107 PMCID: PMC4558766 DOI: 10.1186/s12918-015-0200-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Drosophila sex determination hierarchy is a classic example of a transcriptional regulatory hierarchy, with sex-specific isoforms regulating morphology and behavior. We use a structural equation modeling approach, leveraging natural genetic variation from two studies on Drosophila female head tissues--DSPR collection (596 F1-hybrids from crosses between DSPR sub-populations) and CEGS population (75 F1-hybrids from crosses between DGRP/Winters lines to a reference strain w1118)--to expand understanding of the sex hierarchy gene regulatory network (GRN). This approach is completely generalizable to any natural population, including humans. RESULTS We expanded the sex hierarchy GRN adding novel links among genes, including a link from fruitless (fru) to Sex-lethal (Sxl) identified in both populations. This link is further supported by the presence of fru binding sites in the Sxl locus. 754 candidate genes were added to the pathway, including the splicing factors male-specific lethal 2 and Rm62 as downstream targets of Sxl which are well-supported links in males. Independent studies of doublesex and transformer mutants support many additions, including evidence for a link between the sex hierarchy and metabolism, via Insulin-like receptor. CONCLUSIONS The genes added in the CEGS population were enriched for genes with sex-biased splicing and components of the spliceosome. A common goal of molecular biologists is to expand understanding about regulatory interactions among genes. Using natural alleles we can not only identify novel relationships, but using supervised approaches can order genes into a regulatory hierarchy. Combining these results with independent large effect mutation studies, allows clear candidates for detailed molecular follow-up to emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M Fear
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, CGRC Room 116, PO Box 100266, FL 32610-0266, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | | | - Matthew P Salomon
- Molecular and Computational Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Justin E Dalton
- Biomedical Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
| | - John Tower
- Molecular and Computational Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Sergey V Nuzhdin
- Molecular and Computational Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Lauren M McIntyre
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, CGRC Room 116, PO Box 100266, FL 32610-0266, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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Reiff T, Jacobson J, Cognigni P, Antonello Z, Ballesta E, Tan KJ, Yew JY, Dominguez M, Miguel-Aliaga I. Endocrine remodelling of the adult intestine sustains reproduction in Drosophila. eLife 2015. [PMID: 26216039 PMCID: PMC4515472 DOI: 10.7554/elife.06930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of offspring is energetically costly and relies on incompletely understood mechanisms that generate a positive energy balance. In mothers of many species, changes in key energy-associated internal organs are common yet poorly characterised functionally and mechanistically. In this study, we show that, in adult Drosophila females, the midgut is dramatically remodelled to enhance reproductive output. In contrast to extant models, organ remodelling does not occur in response to increased nutrient intake and/or offspring demands, but rather precedes them. With spatially and temporally directed manipulations, we identify juvenile hormone (JH) as an anticipatory endocrine signal released after mating. Acting through intestinal bHLH-PAS domain proteins Methoprene-tolerant (Met) and Germ cell-expressed (Gce), JH signals directly to intestinal progenitors to yield a larger organ, and adjusts gene expression and sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) activity in enterocytes to support increased lipid metabolism. Our findings identify a metabolically significant paradigm of adult somatic organ remodelling linking hormonal signals, epithelial plasticity, and reproductive output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Reiff
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain
| | - Jake Jacobson
- MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paola Cognigni
- MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zeus Antonello
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain
| | - Esther Ballesta
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain
| | - Kah Junn Tan
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joanne Y Yew
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Maria Dominguez
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain
| | - Irene Miguel-Aliaga
- MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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38
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Mosher J, Zhang W, Blumhagen RZ, D'Alessandro A, Nemkov T, Hansen KC, Hesselberth JR, Reis T. Coordination between Drosophila Arc1 and a specific population of brain neurons regulates organismal fat. Dev Biol 2015. [PMID: 26209258 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The brain plays a critical yet incompletely understood role in regulating organismal fat. We performed a neuronal silencing screen in Drosophila larvae to identify brain regions required to maintain proper levels of organismal fat. When used to modulate synaptic activity in specific brain regions, the enhancer-trap driver line E347 elevated fat upon neuronal silencing, and decreased fat upon neuronal activation. Unbiased sequencing revealed that Arc1 mRNA levels increase upon E347 activation. We had previously identified Arc1 mutations in a high-fat screen. Here we reveal metabolic changes in Arc1 mutants consistent with a high-fat phenotype and an overall shift toward energy storage. We find that Arc1-expressing cells neighbor E347 neurons, and manipulating E347 synaptic activity alters Arc1 expression patterns. Elevating Arc1 expression in these cells decreased fat, a phenocopy of E347 activation. Finally, loss of Arc1 prevented the lean phenotype caused by E347 activation, suggesting that Arc1 activity is required for E347 control of body fat. Importantly, neither E347 nor Arc1 manipulation altered energy-related behaviors. Our results support a model wherein E347 neurons induce Arc1 in specific neighboring cells to prevent excess fat accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Mosher
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, University of Colorado Medical School, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, University of Colorado Medical School, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
| | - Rachel Z Blumhagen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, University of Colorado Medical School, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
| | - Angelo D'Alessandro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Medical School, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
| | - Travis Nemkov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Medical School, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
| | - Kirk C Hansen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Medical School, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
| | - Jay R Hesselberth
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Medical School, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
| | - Tânia Reis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, University of Colorado Medical School, Aurora, CO 80045, United States.
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Docherty JEB, Manno JE, McDermott JE, DiAngelo JR. Mio acts in the Drosophila brain to control nutrient storage and feeding. Gene 2015; 568:190-5. [PMID: 26024590 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.05.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Revised: 04/01/2015] [Accepted: 05/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Animals recognize the availability of nutrients and regulate the intake and storage of these nutrients accordingly. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying nutrient sensing and subsequent changes in behavior and metabolism are not fully understood. Mlx interactor (Mio), the Drosophila homolog of carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP), functions as a transcription factor in the fat body of the fly to control triglyceride storage as well as feeding, suggesting that Mio may act in a nutrient-sensing pathway to coordinate food consumption and metabolism. Here, we show that Mio functions in neurons in Drosophila to regulate feeding and nutrient storage. Pan-neuronal disruption of Mio function leads to increased triglyceride and glycogen storage, and this phenotype is not due to increased food consumption. Interestingly, targeted disruption of Mio specifically in the insulin-producing cells (IPCs) has little effect on nutrient storage, but increases food consumption suggesting that Mio acts in these neurons to control feeding behavior. Since Mio is a transcription factor, one possible way Mio may act in the IPCs to control feeding is through regulating the expression of Drosophila insulin-like peptides (dilps) or drosulfakinin (dsk), neuropeptides produced in the IPCs. Consistent with this hypothesis, IPC-specific knockdown of Mio leads to an increase in dilp3 expression, while not affecting dilp2, 5 or dsk levels. Together, this study indicates a new function for Mio in the Drosophila brain and specifically in the IPCs, controlling neuropeptide gene expression, feeding and metabolism in accordance with nutrient availability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph E Manno
- Department of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA
| | | | - Justin R DiAngelo
- Department of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA; Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine at Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA.
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40
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Minois N, Rockenfeller P, Smith TK, Carmona-Gutierrez D. Spermidine feeding decreases age-related locomotor activity loss and induces changes in lipid composition. PLoS One 2014; 9:e102435. [PMID: 25010732 PMCID: PMC4092136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermidine is a natural polyamine involved in many important cellular functions, whose supplementation in food or water increases life span and stress resistance in several model organisms. In this work, we expand spermidine's range of age-related beneficial effects by demonstrating that it is also able to improve locomotor performance in aged flies. Spermidine's mechanism of action on aging has been primarily related to general protein hypoacetylation that subsequently induces autophagy. Here, we suggest that the molecular targets of spermidine also include lipid metabolism: Spermidine-fed flies contain more triglycerides and show altered fatty acid and phospholipid profiles. We further determine that most of these metabolic changes are regulated through autophagy. Collectively, our data suggests an additional and novel lipid-mediated mechanism of action for spermidine-induced autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadège Minois
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
| | | | - Terry K. Smith
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
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41
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Masek P, Reynolds LA, Bollinger WL, Moody C, Mehta A, Murakami K, Yoshizawa M, Gibbs AG, Keene AC. Altered regulation of sleep and feeding contributes to starvation resistance in Drosophila melanogaster. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 217:3122-32. [PMID: 24948636 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.103309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Animals respond to changes in food availability by adjusting sleep and foraging strategies to optimize their fitness. Wild populations of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, display highly variable levels of starvation resistance that are dependent on geographic location, food availability and evolutionary history. How behaviors that include sleep and feeding vary in Drosophila with increased starvation resistance is unclear. We have generated starvation-resistant flies through experimental evolution to investigate the relationship between foraging behaviors and starvation resistance. Outbred populations of D. melanogaster were selected for starvation resistance over 60 generations. This selection process resulted in flies with a threefold increase in total lipids that survive up to 18 days without food. We tested starvation-selected (S) flies for sleep and feeding behaviors to determine the effect that selection for starvation resistance has had on foraging behavior. Flies from three replicated starvation-selected populations displayed a dramatic reduction in feeding and prolonged sleep duration compared to fed control (F) populations, suggesting that modified sleep and feeding may contribute to starvation resistance. A prolonged larval developmental period contributes to the elevated energy stores present in starvation-selected flies. By preventing S larvae from feeding longer than F larvae, we were able to reduce energy stores in adult S flies to the levels seen in adult F flies, thus allowing us to control for energy storage levels. However, the reduction of energy stores in S flies fails to generate normal sleep and feeding behavior seen in F flies with similar energy stores. These findings suggest that the behavioral changes observed in S flies are due to genetic regulation of behavior rather than elevated lipid levels. Testing S-F hybrid individuals for both feeding and sleep revealed a lack of correlation between food consumption and sleep duration, indicating further independence in genetic factors underlying the sleep and feeding changes observed in S flies. Taken together, these findings provide evidence that starvation selection results in prolonged sleep and reduced feeding through a mechanism that is independent of elevated energy stores. These findings suggest that changes in both metabolic function and behavior contribute to the increase in starvation resistance seen in flies selected for starvation resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Masek
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno. Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Lauren A Reynolds
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, 89154, USA
| | | | - Catriona Moody
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno. Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Aradhana Mehta
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno. Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Kazuma Murakami
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno. Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Masato Yoshizawa
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno. Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Allen G Gibbs
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, 89154, USA
| | - Alex C Keene
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno. Reno, NV, 89557, USA
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42
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Ejsmont RK, Hassan BA. The Little Fly that Could: Wizardry and Artistry of Drosophila Genomics. Genes (Basel) 2014; 5:385-414. [PMID: 24827974 PMCID: PMC4094939 DOI: 10.3390/genes5020385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Revised: 04/16/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
For more than 100 years now, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has been at the forefront of our endeavors to unlock the secrets of the genome. From the pioneering studies of chromosomes and heredity by Morgan and his colleagues, to the generation of fly models for human disease, Drosophila research has been at the forefront of genetics and genomics. We present a broad overview of some of the most powerful genomics tools that keep Drosophila research at the cutting edge of modern biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bassem A Hassan
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, VIB, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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43
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Deshpande SA, Carvalho GB, Amador A, Phillips AM, Hoxha S, Lizotte KJ, Ja WW. Quantifying Drosophila food intake: comparative analysis of current methodology. Nat Methods 2014; 11:535-40. [PMID: 24681694 PMCID: PMC4008671 DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.2899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Food intake is a fundamental parameter in animal studies. Despite the prevalent use of Drosophila in laboratory research, precise measurements of food intake remain challenging in this model organism. Here, we compare several common Drosophila feeding assays: the Capillary Feeder (CAFE), food-labeling with a radioactive tracer or a colorimetric dye, and observations of proboscis extension (PE). We show that the CAFE and radioisotope-labeling provide the most consistent results, have the highest sensitivity, and can resolve differences in feeding that dye-labeling and PE fail to distinguish. We conclude that performing the radiolabeling and CAFE assays in parallel is currently the best approach for quantifying Drosophila food intake. Understanding the strengths and limitations of food intake methodology will greatly advance Drosophila studies of nutrition, behavior, and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonali A Deshpande
- 1] Department of Metabolism and Aging, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA. [2]
| | - Gil B Carvalho
- 1] Department of Metabolism and Aging, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA. [2] [3]
| | - Ariadna Amador
- 1] Department of Metabolism and Aging, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA. [2] Scripps Graduate Program, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA. [3]
| | - Angela M Phillips
- 1] Department of Metabolism and Aging, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA. [2]
| | - Sany Hoxha
- 1] Department of Metabolism and Aging, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA. [2] Scripps Graduate Program, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Keith J Lizotte
- Department of Metabolism and Aging, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - William W Ja
- 1] Department of Metabolism and Aging, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA. [2] Scripps Graduate Program, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA
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44
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Smith WW, Thomas J, Liu J, Li T, Moran TH. From fat fruit fly to human obesity. Physiol Behav 2014; 136:15-21. [PMID: 24508822 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Revised: 01/13/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease that has become a global problem. Although a tremendous amount of effort has been spent to prevent and treat obesity, its etiology is still largely unknown and there are not yet sufficient strategies to control obesity. Recently, the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has become a useful model for studying metabolic homeostasis and obesity related disorders. The goal of this mini-review is to summarize the recent achievements of Drosophila models and to highlight the experimental protocols used in studying feeding behavior and energy homeostasis in the fly. The Drosophila models provide useful tools to understand obesity pathogenesis and to develop novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanli W Smith
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Joseph Thomas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Jingnan Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Tianxia Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Timothy H Moran
- Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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45
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Trinh I, Boulianne GL. Modeling obesity and its associated disorders in Drosophila. Physiology (Bethesda) 2014; 28:117-24. [PMID: 23455770 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00025.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, obesity has been recognized as a major public health problem due to its increased prevalence in both children and adults and its association with numerous life-threatening complications including diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and cancer. Obesity is a complex disorder that is the result of the interaction between predisposing genetic and environmental factors. However, the precise nature of these gene-gene and gene-environment interactions remains unclear. Here, we will describe recent studies demonstrating how fruit flies can be used to identify and characterize the mechanisms underlying obesity and to establish models of obesity-associated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Trinh
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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46
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Venkatachalam K, Luo J, Montell C. Evolutionarily conserved, multitasking TRP channels: lessons from worms and flies. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2014; 223:937-62. [PMID: 24961975 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-05161-1_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channel family is comprised of a large group of cation-permeable channels, which display an extraordinary diversity of roles in sensory signaling. TRPs allow animals to detect chemicals, mechanical force, light, and changes in temperature. Consequently, these channels control a plethora of animal behaviors. Moreover, their functions are not limited to the classical senses, as they are cellular sensors, which are critical for ionic homeostasis and metabolism. Two genetically tractable invertebrate model organisms, Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster, have led the way in revealing a wide array of sensory roles and behaviors that depend on TRP channels. Two overriding themes have emerged from these studies. First, TRPs are multitasking proteins, and second, many functions and modes of activation of these channels are evolutionarily conserved, including some that were formerly thought to be unique to invertebrates, such as phototransduction. Thus, worms and flies offer the potential to decipher roles for mammalian TRPs, which would otherwise not be suspected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartik Venkatachalam
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas School of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA,
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47
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Subramanian M, Jayakumar S, Richhariya S, Hasan G. Loss of IP3 receptor function in neuropeptide secreting neurons leads to obesity in adult Drosophila. BMC Neurosci 2013; 14:157. [PMID: 24350669 PMCID: PMC3878400 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-14-157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2013] [Accepted: 12/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intracellular calcium signaling regulates a variety of cellular and physiological processes. The inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) is a ligand gated calcium channel present on the membranes of endoplasmic reticular stores. In previous work we have shown that Drosophila mutants for the IP3R (itprku) become unnaturally obese as adults with excessive storage of lipids on a normal diet. While the phenotype manifests in cells of the fat body, genetic studies suggest dysregulation of a neurohormonal axis. RESULTS We show that knockdown of the IP3R, either in all neurons or in peptidergic neurons alone, mimics known itpr mutant phenotypes. The peptidergic neuron domain includes, but is not restricted to, the medial neurosecretory cells as well as the stomatogastric nervous system. Conversely, expression of an itpr+ cDNA in the same set of peptidergic neurons rescues metabolic defects of itprku mutants. Transcript levels of a gene encoding a gastric lipase CG5932 (magro), which is known to regulate triacylglyceride storage, can be regulated by itpr knockdown and over-expression in peptidergic neurons. Thus, the focus of observed itpr mutant phenotypes of starvation resistance, increased body weight, elevated lipid storage and hyperphagia derive primarily from peptidergic neurons. CONCLUSIONS The present study shows that itpr function in peptidergic neurons is not only necessary but also sufficient for maintaining normal lipid metabolism in Drosophila. Our results suggest that intracellular calcium signaling in peptidergic neurons affects lipid metabolism by both cell autonomous and non-autonomous mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Gaiti Hasan
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India.
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48
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Dalton JE, Fear JM, Knott S, Baker BS, McIntyre LM, Arbeitman MN. Male-specific Fruitless isoforms have different regulatory roles conferred by distinct zinc finger DNA binding domains. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:659. [PMID: 24074028 PMCID: PMC3852243 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2013] [Accepted: 09/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Drosophila melanogaster adult males perform an elaborate courtship ritual to entice females to mate. fruitless (fru), a gene that is one of the key regulators of male courtship behavior, encodes multiple male-specific isoforms (FruM). These isoforms vary in their carboxy-terminal zinc finger domains, which are predicted to facilitate DNA binding. Results By over-expressing individual FruM isoforms in fru-expressing neurons in either males or females and assaying the global transcriptional response by RNA-sequencing, we show that three FruM isoforms have different regulatory activities that depend on the sex of the fly. We identified several sets of genes regulated downstream of FruM isoforms, including many annotated with neuronal functions. By determining the binding sites of individual FruM isoforms using SELEX we demonstrate that the distinct zinc finger domain of each FruM isoforms confers different DNA binding specificities. A genome-wide search for these binding site sequences finds that the gene sets identified as induced by over-expression of FruM isoforms in males are enriched for genes that contain the binding sites. An analysis of the chromosomal distribution of genes downstream of FruM shows that those that are induced and repressed in males are highly enriched and depleted on the X chromosome, respectively. Conclusions This study elucidates the different regulatory and DNA binding activities of three FruM isoforms on a genome-wide scale and identifies genes regulated by these isoforms. These results add to our understanding of sex chromosome biology and further support the hypothesis that in some cell-types genes with male-biased expression are enriched on the X chromosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin E Dalton
- Biomedical Sciences Department and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL 32303, USA.
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49
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Of flies and men: insights on organismal metabolism from fruit flies. BMC Biol 2013; 11:38. [PMID: 23587196 PMCID: PMC3626883 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7007-11-38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2013] [Accepted: 04/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The fruit fly Drosophila has contributed significantly to our general understanding of the basic principles of signaling, cell and developmental biology, and neurobiology. However, answers to questions pertaining to energy metabolism have been so far mostly addressed in more complex model organisms such as mice. We review in this article recent studies that show how the genetic tractability and simplicity of Drosophila are being used to identify novel regulatory mechanisms at the organismal level, and to query the co-ordination between energy metabolism and other processes such as neurodegeneration, circadian rhythms, immunity, and tumor biology.
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50
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Gruber F, Knapek S, Fujita M, Matsuo K, Bräcker L, Shinzato N, Siwanowicz I, Tanimura T, Tanimoto H. Suppression of Conditioned Odor Approach by Feeding Is Independent of Taste and Nutritional Value in Drosophila. Curr Biol 2013; 23:507-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2012] [Revised: 02/05/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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