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Science (New York, N.Y.) Jun 2023Aging is characterized by a decline in tissue function, but the underlying changes at cellular resolution across the organism remain unclear. Here, we present the Aging...
Aging is characterized by a decline in tissue function, but the underlying changes at cellular resolution across the organism remain unclear. Here, we present the Aging Fly Cell Atlas, a single-nucleus transcriptomic map of the whole aging . We characterized 163 distinct cell types and performed an in-depth analysis of changes in tissue cell composition, gene expression, and cell identities. We further developed aging clock models to predict fly age and show that ribosomal gene expression is a conserved predictive factor for age. Combining all aging features, we find distinctive cell type-specific aging patterns. This atlas provides a valuable resource for studying fundamental principles of aging in complex organisms.
Topics: Animals; Aging; Cellular Senescence; Gene Expression Profiling; Transcriptome; Drosophila melanogaster; Atlases as Topic
PubMed: 37319212
DOI: 10.1126/science.adg0934 -
ELife Oct 2023Individual species of bacteria and yeast present in the food of wild fruit flies work together to provide the nutrients needed for larval growth.
Individual species of bacteria and yeast present in the food of wild fruit flies work together to provide the nutrients needed for larval growth.
Topics: Animals; Drosophila melanogaster; Microbiota; Drosophila; Nutrients
PubMed: 37819270
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.92482 -
Nature Neuroscience Jul 2023Neural activity is modulated over different timescales encompassing subseconds to hours, reflecting changes in external environment, internal state and behavior. Using...
Neural activity is modulated over different timescales encompassing subseconds to hours, reflecting changes in external environment, internal state and behavior. Using Drosophila as a model, we developed a rapid and bidirectional reporter that provides a cellular readout of recent neural activity. This reporter uses nuclear versus cytoplasmic distribution of CREB-regulated transcriptional co-activator (CRTC). Subcellular distribution of GFP-tagged CRTC (CRTC::GFP) bidirectionally changes on the order of minutes and reflects both increases and decreases in neural activity. We established an automated machine-learning-based routine for efficient quantification of reporter signal. Using this reporter, we demonstrate mating-evoked activation and inactivation of modulatory neurons. We further investigated the functional role of the master courtship regulator gene fruitless (fru) and show that fru is necessary to ensure activation of male arousal neurons by female cues. Together, our results establish CRTC::GFP as a bidirectional reporter of recent neural activity suitable for examining neural correlates in behavioral contexts.
Topics: Animals; Male; Female; Drosophila; Drosophila Proteins; Nervous System; Neurons; Social Behavior; Courtship; Drosophila melanogaster; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Transcription Factors
PubMed: 37308660
DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01357-w -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023The gut is a crucial organ in insect defense against various pathogens and harmful substances in their environment and diet. Distinct insect gut compartments possess... (Review)
Review
The gut is a crucial organ in insect defense against various pathogens and harmful substances in their environment and diet. Distinct insect gut compartments possess unique functionalities contributing to their physiological processes, including immunity. The insect gut's cellular composition is vital for cellular and humoral immunity. The peritrophic membrane, mucus layer, lumen, microvilli, and various gut cells provide essential support for activating and regulating immune defense mechanisms. These components also secrete molecules and enzymes that are imperative in physiological activities. Additionally, the gut microbiota initiates various signaling pathways and produces vitamins and minerals that help maintain gut homeostasis. Distinct immune signaling pathways are activated within the gut when insects ingest pathogens or hazardous materials. The pathway induced depends on the infection or pathogen type; include immune deficiency (imd), Toll, JAK/STAT, Duox-ROS, and JNK/FOXO regulatory pathways. These pathways produce different antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and maintain gut homeostasis. Furthermore, various signaling mechanisms within gut cells regulate insect gut recovery following infection. Although some questions regarding insect gut immunity in different species require additional study, this review provides insights into the insect gut's structure and composition, commensal microorganism roles in and life cycles, different signaling pathways involved in gut immune systems, and the insect gut post-infection recovery through various signaling mechanisms.
Topics: Animals; Drosophila melanogaster; Signal Transduction; Homeostasis; Antimicrobial Peptides; Insecta
PubMed: 38193088
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1272143 -
ELife Jun 2023Elucidating the role of one of the proteins produced by reveals a new molecule that allows this gut bacterium to support the development of fruit fly larvae.
Elucidating the role of one of the proteins produced by reveals a new molecule that allows this gut bacterium to support the development of fruit fly larvae.
Topics: Animals; Drosophila melanogaster; Symbiosis; Microbiota; Drosophila; Fruit; Larva
PubMed: 37272924
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.88873 -
ELife Mar 2024A map showing how neurons that process motion are wired together in the visual system of fruit flies provides new insights into how animals navigate and remain stable...
A map showing how neurons that process motion are wired together in the visual system of fruit flies provides new insights into how animals navigate and remain stable when flying.
Topics: Animals; Drosophila; Motion; Neurons
PubMed: 38436656
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.95989 -
ELife Sep 2023An unexpected interaction between a long non-coding RNA locus and a genetic insulator called has an important role in gene regulation during development in .
An unexpected interaction between a long non-coding RNA locus and a genetic insulator called has an important role in gene regulation during development in .
Topics: Animals; Drosophila; RNA, Long Noncoding
PubMed: 37698172
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.92076 -
EMBO Reports Jun 2023Vitamins are essential micronutrients, but the mechanisms of vitamin chemoreception in animals are poorly understood. Here, we provide evidence that vitamin C doubles...
Vitamins are essential micronutrients, but the mechanisms of vitamin chemoreception in animals are poorly understood. Here, we provide evidence that vitamin C doubles starvation resistance and induces egg laying in Drosophila melanogaster. Our behavioral analyses of genetically engineered and anatomically ablated flies show that fruit flies sense vitamin C via sweet-sensing gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) in the labellum. Using a behavioral screen and in vivo electrophysiological analyses of ionotropic receptors (IRs) and sweet-sensing gustatory receptors (GRs), we find that two broadly tuned IRs (i.e., IR25a and IR76b) and five GRs (i.e., GR5a, GR61a, GR64b, GR64c, and GR64e) are essential for vitamin C detection. Thus, vitamin C is directly detected by the fly labellum and requires at least two distinct receptor types. Next, we expand our electrophysiological study to test attractive tastants such as sugars, carboxylic acids, and glycerol. Our analysis elucidates the molecular basis of chemoreception in sweet-sensing GRNs.
Topics: Animals; Drosophila; Drosophila melanogaster; Taste; Ascorbic Acid; Drosophila Proteins; Vitamins; Receptors, Cell Surface
PubMed: 37114473
DOI: 10.15252/embr.202256319 -
ELife Sep 2023Experiments on female fruit flies reveal more about the molecular mechanisms involved as germline stem cells transition to become egg cells.
Experiments on female fruit flies reveal more about the molecular mechanisms involved as germline stem cells transition to become egg cells.
Topics: Animals; Female; Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophila Proteins; Drosophila; Germ Cells; Stem Cells
PubMed: 37772961
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.91998 -
Fly Dec 2023
Topics: Animals; Japan; Drosophila; Research
PubMed: 36876479
DOI: 10.1080/19336934.2023.2173997