Drosophila as a Model Organism to Study Basic Mechanisms of Longevity

Quercetin and Astragaloside IV Mitigate the Developmental Abnormalities Induced by Gestational Exposure to Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) are extensively utilized in the commercial and biomedical sectors, posing heightened risks of potential cytotoxicity through various mechanisms. Nonetheless, the regulatory framework governing the gestational toxicity of ZnO NPs and the corresponding intervention strategies remain largely obscure. In this study, using the Drosophila model, we observed that gestational exposure to ZnO NPs led to growth and developmental anomalies in a dose-dependent manner when compared with the control (no ZnO NP exposure). Subsequent dietary administration of Quercetin and Astragaloside IV resulted in effective mitigation of the developmental toxicity induced by exposure to ZnO NPs. Moreover, the latter also triggered activation of the ferroptosis pathway. The associated parameters were successfully ameliorated by the administration of Quercetin and Astragaloside IV. Notably, treatment with Ferrostatin-1 also alleviated developmental disorders arising from exposure to ZnO NPs. In conclusion, our investigation demonstrated that exposure to ZnO NPs during gestation interfered with growth and development via the ferroptosis pathway, underscoring the significance of dietary supplementation with Quercetin and Astragaloside IV for protection against developmental toxicity.

Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism for screening acetylcholinesterase reactivators

The widely used insecticide chlorpyrifos (CP) is known to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity attributed to result in various neurological disorders and acetylcholine-dependent organ functions including heart, skeletal muscle, lung, gastrointestinal tract, and central nervous systems. Enzyme reactivators, such as oximes, are known to restore AChE activity and mitigate adverse effects. The identification of compounds that reactivate AChE constitute agents with important therapeutic beneficial effects in cases of pesticide poisoning. However, the screening of novel drugs using traditional models may raise ethical concerns. This study aimed to investigate the potential of Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism for screening AChE reactivators, with a focus on organophosphate poisoning. The efficacy of several oximes, including pralidoxime, trimedoxime, obidoxime, methoxime, HI-6, K027, and K048, against CP-induced AChE activity inhibition in D. melanogaster was determined in silico, in vitro, and in vivo experiments. Molecular docking studies indicated a strong interaction between studied oximes and the active-site gorge of AChE. Data showed that selected oximes (100 μM) are effective in the reactivation of AChE inhibited by CP (10 μM) in vitro. Finally, in vivo investigations demonstrated that selected oximes, pralidoxime and K048 (1.5 ppm), reversed the locomotor deficits, inhibition of AChE activity as well as lowered the mortality rates induced by CP (0.75 ppm). Our findings contribute to utilization of D. melanogaster as a robust model for determination of actions of identified new AChE inhibitory agents with more effective therapeutic properties that those currently in use in the clinical practice in treatment of AChE associated disorders.

Chronic trans fatty acid consumption shortens lifespan in male Drosophila melanogaster on a high-sugar and high-fat diet

Aging entails the progressive decline in the body's self-regulation and functionality over time. Notably, obesity and aging exhibit parallel phenotypes, with obesity further accelerating the aging process across multiple dimensions and diminishing lifespan. In this study, we explored the impact of trans fatty acid (TFA) consumption on the overall health and lifespan of male Drosophila melanogaster under an isocaloric high-sugar and high-fat diet. Our results indicate that TFA intake results in a shortened lifespan, elevated body weight, and increased triglyceride levels in flies fed a high-sugar and high-fat diet with equivalent caloric intake. Additionally, TFA exposure induces oxidative stress, locomotor deficits, and damage to the intestinal barrier in flies. Collectively, chronic TFA consumption expedites the aging process and reduces the lifespan of male Drosophila melanogaster. These results contribute supplementary evidence regarding the adverse health effects associated with TFAs.

How evolution makes us age: Introducing the evolvable soma theory of ageing

At any moment in time, evolution is faced with a formidable challenge: refining the already highly optimised design of biological species, a feat accomplished through all preceding generations. In such a scenario, the impact of random changes (the method employed by evolution) is much more likely to be harmful than advantageous, potentially lowering the reproductive fitness of the affected individuals. Our hypothesis is that ageing is, at least in part, caused by the cumulative effect of all the experiments carried out by evolution to improve a species' design. These experiments are almost always unsuccessful, as expected given their pseudorandom nature, cause harm to the body and ultimately lead to death. This hypothesis is consistent with the concept of "terminal addition", by which nature is biased towards adding innovations at the end of development. From the perspective of evolution as an optimisation algorithm, ageing is advantageous as it allows to test innovations during a phase when their impact on fitness is present but less pronounced. Our inference suggests that ageing has a key biological role, as it contributes to the system's evolvability by exerting a regularisation effect on the fitness landscape of evolution.

An Introductory Guide to Using Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center and FlyBase for Aging Research

Studies on numerous species have demonstrated strikingly conserved mechanisms that determine the aging process, from yeasts to worms, flies, zebrafish, mice, and humans. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is an excellent model organism for studying the biological basis of normal aging and etiology of age-related diseases. Since its inception in 1967, the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center (BDSC) has grown into the largest collection of documented D. melanogaster strains (currently > 91,000). This paper aims to briefly review conserved mechanisms of aging and provides a guide to help users understand the organization of stock listings on the BDSC website and familiarize themselves with the search functions on BDSC and FlyBase, with an emphasis on using genes in conserved pathways as examples to find stocks for aging studies.

Antigenotoxic and Life-Prolonging Effects of Flavoured Kombuchas on Drosophila melanogaster

Research background

Kombucha is a fermented beverage with several health benefits; however, to improve its antioxidant activity, new raw materials such as hop, madimak and hawthorn were included in the present study.

Experimental approach

The somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) was performed on the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) to evaluate the antigenotoxic potential of black tea-flavoured kombucha and three other flavours of kombuchas (hop, madimak and hawthorn) against H2O2- and K2Cr2O7-induced genotoxicity. Furthermore, a lifespan assay was performed to assess the effects of kombuchas on the longevity of the fruit fly.

Results and conclusions

According to the results obtained from the SMART assay, hop-flavoured kombucha attenuated genotoxicity induced by H2O2, and madimak-flavoured kombucha reduced genotoxicity induced by H2O2 and K2Cr2O7. Black tea- and hop-flavoured kombucha prolonged the lifespan of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) after the treatment with H2O2 and K2Cr2O7.

Novelty and scientific contribution

Hop-flavoured kombucha is a promising antioxidant that protects the genome and extends the lifespan of the fruit fly. This study sheds light on novel beverages that can combat ageing and protect against genotoxicity.

Genetic, Environmental, and Stochastic Components of Lifespan Variability: The Drosophila Paradigm

Lifespan is a complex quantitative trait involving genetic and non-genetic factors as well as the peculiarities of ontogenesis. As with all quantitative traits, lifespan shows considerable variation within populations and between individuals. Drosophila, a favourite object of geneticists, has greatly advanced our understanding of how different forms of variability affect lifespan. This review considers the role of heritable genetic variability, phenotypic plasticity and stochastic variability in controlling lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster. We discuss the major historical milestones in the development of the genetic approach to study lifespan, the breeding of long-lived lines, advances in lifespan QTL mapping, the environmental factors that have the greatest influence on lifespan in laboratory maintained flies, and the mechanisms, by which individual development affects longevity. The interplay between approaches to study ageing and lifespan limitation will also be discussed. Particular attention will be paid to the interaction of different types of variability in the control of lifespan.

New Insights into Antioxidant Peptides: An Overview of Efficient Screening, Evaluation Models, Molecular Mechanisms, and Applications

Antioxidant peptides are currently a hotspot in food science, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. In different fields, the screening, activity evaluation, mechanisms, and applications of antioxidant peptides are the pivotal areas of research. Among these topics, the efficient screening of antioxidant peptides stands at the forefront of cutting-edge research. To this end, efficient screening with novel technologies has significantly accelerated the research process, gradually replacing the traditional approach. After the novel antioxidant peptides are screened and identified, a time-consuming activity evaluation is another indispensable procedure, especially in in vivo models. Cellular and rodent models have been widely used for activity evaluation, whilst non-rodent models provide an efficient solution, even with the potential for high-throughput screening. Meanwhile, further research of molecular mechanisms can elucidate the essence underlying the activity, which is related to several signaling pathways, including Keap1-Nrf2/ARE, mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, TGF-β/SMAD, AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and NF-κB. Last but not least, antioxidant peptides have broad applications in food manufacture, therapy, and the cosmetics industry, which requires a systematic review. This review introduces novel technologies for the efficient screening of antioxidant peptides, categorized with a new vision. A wide range of activity evaluation assays, encompassing cellular models, as well as rodent and non-rodent models, are provided in a comprehensive manner. In addition, recent advances in molecular mechanisms are analyzed with specific cases. Finally, the applications of antioxidant peptides in food production, therapy, and cosmetics are systematically reviewed.

Using Drosophila melanogaster to Dissect the Roles of the mTOR Signaling Pathway in Cell Growth

The evolutionarily conserved target of rapamycin (TOR) serine/threonine kinase controls eukaryotic cell growth, metabolism and survival by integrating signals from the nutritional status and growth factors. TOR is the catalytic subunit of two distinct functional multiprotein complexes termed mTORC1 (mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1) and mTORC2, which phosphorylate a different set of substrates and display different physiological functions. Dysregulation of TOR signaling has been involved in the development and progression of several disease states including cancer and diabetes. Here, we highlight how genetic and biochemical studies in the model system Drosophila melanogaster have been crucial to identify the mTORC1 and mTORC2 signaling components and to dissect their function in cellular growth, in strict coordination with insulin signaling. In addition, we review new findings that involve Drosophila Golgi phosphoprotein 3 in regulating organ growth via Rheb-mediated activation of mTORC1 in line with an emerging role for the Golgi as a major hub for mTORC1 signaling.

Insect-pathogen crosstalk and the cellular-molecular mechanisms of insect immunity: uncovering the underlying signaling pathways and immune regulatory function of non-coding RNAs

Multicellular organisms are constantly subjected to pathogens that might be harmful. Although insects lack an adaptive immune system, they possess highly effective anti-infective mechanisms. Bacterial phagocytosis and parasite encapsulation are some forms of cellular responses. Insects often defend themselves against infections through a humoral response. This phenomenon includes the secretion of antimicrobial peptides into the hemolymph. Specific receptors for detecting infection are required for the recognition of foreign pathogens such as the proteins that recognize glucans and peptidoglycans, together referred to as PGRPs and βGRPs. Activation of these receptors leads to the stimulation of signaling pathways which further activates the genes encoding for antimicrobial peptides. Some instances of such pathways are the JAK-STAT, Imd, and Toll. The host immune response that frequently accompanies infections has, however, been circumvented by diseases, which may have assisted insects evolve their own complicated immune systems. The role of ncRNAs in insect immunology has been discussed in several notable studies and reviews. This paper examines the most recent research on the immune regulatory function of ncRNAs during insect-pathogen crosstalk, including insect- and pathogen-encoded miRNAs and lncRNAs, and provides an overview of the important insect signaling pathways and effector mechanisms activated by diverse pathogen invaders.

Angelica keiskei Impacts the Lifespan and Healthspan of Drosophila melanogaster in a Sex and Strain-Dependent Manner

Angelica keiskei is a perennial plant, belonging to the Apiaceae family and originating from Japan. This plant has been reported to act as a diuretic, analeptic, antidiabetic, hypertensive, tumor, galactagogue, and laxative. The mechanism of action of A. keiskei is not known, but previous studies have suggested that it may act as an antioxidant. In this work, we used Drosophila melanogaster to evaluate the impact of A. keiskei on lifespan and healthspan and its potential anti-aging mechanism by conducting multiple assays on three fly strains: w¹¹¹⁸, chico, and JIV. We observed that the extract extended lifespan and improved healthspan in a sex- and strain-dependent manner. A. keiskei extended lifespan and improved reproductive fitness in female flies and either had no effect or decreased survival and physical performance in males. The extract protected against the superoxide generator paraquat in both sexes. These sex-specific effects suggest that A. keiskei may act through age-specific pathways such as the insulin and insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) pathways. Upon examination, we found that the increased survival of A. keiskei-fed females was dependent on the presence of the insulin receptor substrate chico, supporting the role of IIS in the action of A. keiskei.

Nutritional Programming of the Lifespan of Male Drosophila by Activating FOXO on Larval Low-Nutrient Diet

Nutrition during the developmental stages has long-term effects on adult physiology, disease and lifespan, and is termed nutritional programming. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of nutritional programming are not yet well understood. In this study, we showed that developmental diets could regulate the lifespan of adult Drosophila in a way that interacts with various adult diets during development and adulthood. Importantly, we demonstrated that a developmental low-yeast diet (0.2SY) extended both the health span and lifespan of male flies under nutrient-replete conditions in adulthood through nutritional programming. Males with a low-yeast diets during developmental stages had a better resistance to starvation and lessened decline of climbing ability with age in adulthood. Critically, we revealed that the activity of the Drosophila transcription factor FOXO (dFOXO) was upregulated in adult males under developmental low-nutrient conditions. The knockdown of dFOXO, with both ubiquitous and fat-body-specific patterns, can completely abolish the lifespan-extending effect from the larval low-yeast diet. Ultimately, we identify that the developmental diet achieved the nutritional programming of the lifespan of adult males by modulating the activity of dFOXO in Drosophila. Together, these results provide molecular evidence that the nutrition in the early life of animals could program the health of their later life and their longevity.

Studying the Geroprotective Properties of YAP/TAZ Signaling Inhibitors on Drosophila melanogaster Model

The transcriptional coactivators Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) are the main downstream effectors of the evolutionarily conserved Hippo signaling pathway. YAP/TAZ are implicated in the transcriptional regulation of target genes that are involved in a wide range of key biological processes affecting tissue homeostasis and play dual roles in the aging process, depending on the cellular and tissue context. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether pharmacological inhibitors of Yap/Taz increase the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster. Real-time qRT-PCR was performed to measure the changes in the expression of Yki (Yorkie, the Drosophila homolog of YAP/TAZ) target genes. We have revealed a lifespan-increasing effect of YAP/TAZ inhibitors that was mostly associated with decreased expression levels of the wg and E2f1 genes. However, further analysis is required to understand the link between the YAP/TAZ pathway and aging.

Exposure to cytarabine causes side effects on adult development and physiology and induces intestinal damage via apoptosis in Drosophila

Cytarabine (Ara-C) is a widely used drug in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, it faces serious challenges in clinical application due to serious side effects such as gastrointestinal disorders and neurologic toxicities. Until now, the mechanism of Ara-C-induced damage is not clear. Here, we used Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) as the in vivo model to explore the side effects and mechanism of Ara-C. Our results showed that Ara-C supplementation delayed larval development, reduced lifespan, impaired locomotor capacity, and increased susceptibility to stress response in adult flies. In addition, Ara-C led to the intestinal morphological damage and ROS accumulation in the guts. Moreover, administration of Ara-C promoted gene expressions of Toll pathway, IMD pathway, and apoptotic pathway in the guts. These findings raise the prospects of using Drosophila as in vivo model to rapidly assess chemotherapy-mediated toxicity and efficiently screen the protective drugs.