Genetic studies of spectrin in the larval fat body of Drosophila melanogaster: evidence for a novel lipid uptake apparatus

Lipophorin: The Lipid Shuttle

Insects need to transport lipids through the aqueous medium of the hemolymph to the organs in demand, after they are absorbed by the intestine or mobilized from the lipid-producing organs. Lipophorin is a lipoprotein present in insect hemolymph, and is responsible for this function. A single gene encodes an apolipoprotein that is cleaved to generate apolipophorin I and II. These are the essential protein constituents of lipophorin. In some physiological conditions, a third apolipoprotein of different origin may be present. In most insects, lipophorin transports mainly diacylglycerol and hydrocarbons, in addition to phospholipids. The fat body synthesizes and secretes lipophorin into the hemolymph, and several signals, such as nutritional, endocrine, or external agents, can regulate this process. However, the main characteristic of lipophorin is the fact that it acts as a reusable shuttle, distributing lipids between organs without being endocytosed or degraded in this process. Lipophorin interacts with tissues through specific receptors of the LDL receptor superfamily, although more recent results have shown that other proteins may also be involved. In this chapter, we describe the lipophorin structure in terms of proteins and lipids, in addition to reviewing what is known about lipoprotein synthesis and regulation. In addition, we reviewed the results investigating lipophorin's function in the movement of lipids between organs and the function of lipophorin receptors in this process.

The fat body cortical actin network regulates Drosophila inter-organ nutrient trafficking, signaling, and adipose cell size

Defective nutrient storage and adipocyte enlargement (hypertrophy) are emerging features of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Within adipose tissues, how the cytoskeletal network contributes to adipose cell size, nutrient uptake, fat storage, and signaling remain poorly understood. Utilizing the Drosophila larval fat body (FB) as a model adipose tissue, we show that a specific actin isoform-Act5C-forms the cortical actin network necessary to expand adipocyte cell size for biomass storage in development. Additionally, we uncover a non-canonical role for the cortical actin cytoskeleton in inter-organ lipid trafficking. We find Act5C localizes to the FB cell surface and cell-cell boundaries, where it intimately contacts peripheral LDs (pLDs), forming a cortical actin network for cell architectural support. FB-specific loss of Act5C perturbs FB triglyceride (TG) storage and LD morphology, resulting in developmentally delayed larvae that fail to develop into flies. Utilizing temporal RNAi-depletion approaches, we reveal that Act5C is indispensable post-embryogenesis during larval feeding as FB cells expand and store fat. Act5C-deficient FBs fail to grow, leading to lipodystrophic larvae unable to accrue sufficient biomass for complete metamorphosis. In line with this, Act5C-deficient larvae display blunted insulin signaling and reduced feeding. Mechanistically, we also show this diminished signaling correlates with decreased lipophorin (Lpp) lipoprotein-mediated lipid trafficking, and find Act5C is required for Lpp secretion from the FB for lipid transport. Collectively, we propose that the Act5C-dependent cortical actin network of Drosophila adipose tissue is required for adipose tissue size-expansion and organismal energy homeostasis in development, and plays an essential role in inter-organ nutrient transport and signaling.

An RDH‐Plin2 axis modulates lipid droplet size by antagonizing Bmm lipase

The size of lipid droplets varies greatly in vivo and is determined by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. From an RNAi screen in Drosophila, we found that knocking down subunits of COP9 signalosome (CSN) results in enlarged lipid droplets under high‐fat, but not normal, conditions. We identified CG2064, a retinol dehydrogenase (RDH) homolog, as the proteasomal degradation target of CSN in regulating lipid droplet size. RDH/CG2064 interacts with the lipid droplet‐resident protein Plin2 and the RDH/CG2064‐Plin2 axis acts to reduce the overall level and lipid droplet localization of Bmm/ATGL lipase. This axis is important for larval survival under prolonged starvation. Thus, we discovered an RDH‐Plin2 axis modulates lipid droplet size.

The Drosophila model to interrogate triacylglycerol biology

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.

Long noncoding RNA regulation of spermatogenesis via the spectrin cytoskeleton in Drosophila

The spectrin cytoskeleton has been shown to be critical in diverse processes such as axon development and degeneration, myoblast fusion, and spermatogenesis. Spectrin can be modulated in a tissue specific manner through junctional protein complexes, however, it has not been shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) interact with and modulate spectrin. Here, we provide evidence of a lncRNA CR45362 that interacts with α-Spectrin, is required for spermatid nuclear bundling during Drosophila spermatogenesis. We observed that CR45362 showed high expression in the cyst cells at the basal testis, and CRISPR-mediated knockout of CR45362 led to sterile male, unbundled spermatid nuclei, and disrupted actin cones. Through chromatin isolation by RNA precipitation-mass spectrometry (ChIRP-MS), we identified actin-spectrin cytoskeletal components physically interact with the lncRNA CR45362. Genetic screening on identified cytoskeletal factors revealed that cyst cell-specific knockdown of α-Spectrin phenocopied CR45362 mutants and resulted in spermatid nuclear bundle defects. Consistently, CR45362 knockout disrupted the co-localization of α-Spectrin and spermatid nuclear bundles in the head cyst cells at the basal testis. Thus, we uncovered a novel lncRNA CR45362 that interacts with α-Spectrin to stabilize spermatid nuclear bundles during spermatid maturation.

Drosophila Snazarus Regulates a Lipid Droplet Population at Plasma Membrane-Droplet Contacts in Adipocytes

Adipocytes store nutrients as lipid droplets (LDs), but how they organize their LD stores to balance lipid uptake, storage, and mobilization remains poorly understood. Here, using Drosophila fat body (FB) adipocytes, we characterize spatially distinct LD populations that are maintained by different lipid pools. We identify peripheral LDs (pLDs) that make close contact with the plasma membrane (PM) and are maintained by lipophorin-dependent lipid trafficking. pLDs are distinct from larger cytoplasmic medial LDs (mLDs), which are maintained by FASN1-dependent de novo lipogenesis. We find that sorting nexin CG1514 or Snazarus (Snz) associates with pLDs and regulates LD homeostasis at ER-PM contact sites. Loss of SNZ perturbs pLD organization, whereas Snz over-expression drives LD expansion, triacylglyceride production, starvation resistance, and lifespan extension through a DESAT1-dependent pathway. We propose that Drosophila adipocytes maintain spatially distinct LD populations and identify Snz as a regulator of LD organization and inter-organelle crosstalk.

Endocrine and physiological regulation of neutral fat storage in Drosophila

After having revolutionized our understanding of the mechanisms of animal development, Drosophila melanogaster has more recently emerged as an equally valid genetic model in the field of animal metabolism. An increasing number of studies have revealed that many signaling pathways that control metabolism in mammals, including pathways controlled by nutrients (insulin, TOR), steroid hormone, glucagon, and hedgehog, are functionally conserved between mammals and Drosophila. In fact, genetic screens and analyses in Drosophila have identified new players and filled in gaps in the signaling networks that control metabolism. This review focuses on data that show how these networks control the formation and breakdown of triacylglycerol energy stores in the fat tissue of Drosophila.

Clues on the function of Manduca sexta perilipin 2 inferred from developmental and nutrition-dependent changes in its expression

Cellular triglycerides (TG) are stored in cytosolic lipid droplets (LDs). Perilipins (PLIN) are a group of LD-proteins that play important roles in the assembly and transport of LDs and in TG metabolism. Two members of the PLIN family are found in insects (PLIN1 & 2 or Lsd1 & 2). We have cloned and expressed Manduca sexta PLIN2 (MsPLIN2), and studied developmental and nutritional changes in the expression of PLIN2. Nutritional changes induced fast alterations in PLIN2 mRNA and protein levels in fat body and midgut of the feeding larvae. The relationship observed between PLIN2 expression and TG synthesis in both larval fat body and midgut suggests that PLIN2 is needed when tissues are accumulating TG. However, when the fat body was storing TG at maximal capacity, MsPLIN2 levels declined. This unexpected finding suggests the occurrence of alternative mechanism/s to shield TG from the action of lipases in M. sexta LDs. In addition, it implies that the cellular level of lipid storage could be modulating MsPLIN2 expression and/or degradation. The study also confirmed that MsPLIN2 was most abundant in the adult fat body, which is characterized by a high rate of TG hydrolysis and lipid mobilization. Whether MsPLIN2 is directly involved in lipolysis and/or the secretion of lipids in the fat body of adult of M. sexta is unknown at this time. Nonetheless, the coexistence of high PLIN2 and lipolysis levels suggests a complex role for MsPLIN2. Altogether, we found that MsPLIN2 is needed when the synthesis of glycerides, DG and TG, is active even if the insect is accumulating or consuming TG.

Plasma membrane overgrowth causes fibrotic collagen accumulation and immune activation in Drosophila adipocytes

Many chronic diseases are associated with fibrotic deposition of Collagen and other matrix proteins. Little is known about the factors that determine preferential onset of fibrosis in particular tissues. Here we show that plasma membrane (PM) overgrowth causes pericellular Collagen accumulation in Drosophila adipocytes. We found that loss of Dynamin and other endocytic components causes pericellular trapping of outgoing Collagen IV due to dramatic cortex expansion when endocytic removal of PM is prevented. Deposits also form in the absence of negative Toll immune regulator Cactus, excess PM being caused in this case by increased secretion. Finally, we show that trimeric Collagen accumulation, downstream of Toll or endocytic defects, activates a tissue damage response. Our work indicates that traffic imbalances and PM topology may contribute to fibrosis. It also places fibrotic deposits both downstream and upstream of immune signaling, consistent with the chronic character of fibrotic diseases.

As the fat flies: The dynamic lipid droplets of Drosophila embryos

Research into lipid droplets is rapidly expanding, and new cellular and organismal roles for these lipid-storage organelles are continually being discovered. The early Drosophila embryo is particularly well suited for addressing certain questions in lipid-droplet biology and combines technical advantages with unique biological phenomena. This review summarizes key features of this experimental system and the techniques available to study it, in order to make it accessible to researchers outside this field. It then describes the two topics most heavily studied in this system, lipid-droplet motility and protein sequestration on droplets, discusses what is known about the molecular players involved, points to open questions, and compares the results from Drosophila embryo studies to what it is known about lipid droplets in other systems.