Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h blocks the cell cycle of Spodoptera exigua fat body cells at G2 /M phase by downregulating cyclin B1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1

Ascoviruses are double-stranded DNA viruses that are pathogenic to noctuid larvae. In vitro infection causes the cells to fail to replicate and proliferate normally. However, the molecular mechanisms are unclear. In this study, the transmission electron microscopy data of infected-Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) fat body cells (SeFB, IOZCAS-SpexII-A cells) showed that virions were internalized in phagocytic vesicles, but not in the nucleus. FACS of cell-cycle progression was performed in SeFB cells infected with Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h (HvAV-3h). The cell cycle phase distributions of the SeFB cells were G₁  = 29.52 ± 1.10%, S = 30.33 ± 1.19%, and G₂ /M = 40.06 ± 0.75%. The cell culture doubling time was approximately 24 h. The G₁ , S, and G₂ /M phases were each approximately 8 h. The unsynchronized or synchronized cells were arrested at G₂ /M phase after infection with HvAV-3h. Our data also showed that cells with more than 4N DNA content appeared in the HvAV-3h-treated group. While the mRNA levels of cyclin B₁ , cyclin H, and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) were downregulated after HvAV-3h infection, the mRNA expression levels of cyclin A, cyclin D, and cyclin B₂ were not significantly changed. Western blotting results showed that the expression of cyclin B₁ and CDK1 in infected SeFB cells within 24 h postinfection (hpi), and HvAV-3h infection inhibited the expression of cyclin B₁ and CDK1 at 12-24 hpi. Overall, these data implied that HvAV-3h infection leads to an accumulation of cells in the G₂ /M phases by downregulating the expression of cyclin B₁ and CDK1.

Segmentation of the subcuticular fat body in Apis mellifera females with different reproductive potentials

Evolution has created different castes of females in eusocial haplodiploids. The difference between them lies in their functions and vulnerability but above all in their reproductive potentials. Honeybee queens are highly fertile. On the other hand, the workers are facultatively sterile. However, rebel workers, i.e. workers that develop in a queenless colony, reproduce more often than normal workers. As a result, the fat body of these bees, which apart from acting as the energy reserve, is also the site of numerous metabolic processes, had to specialize in different functions perfected over millions of years of eusocial evolution. Assuming that the variety of functions manifests itself in the pleomorphic structure of the fat body cells, we predicted that also different parts of the fat body, e.g. from different segments of the abdomen, contain different sets of cells. Such differences could be expected between queens, rebels and normal workers, i.e. females with dramatically different reproductive potentials. We confirmed all these expectations. Although all bees had the same types of cells, their proportion and segmental character corresponded with the caste reproductive potential and physiological characteristics shaped in the evolutionary process. The females with an increased reproductive potential were characterized by the presence of oenocytes in the third tergite and high concentrations of compounds responsible for energy reserves, like glucose, glycogen and triglycerides. Queens had very large trophocytes, especially in the third tergite. Only in workers did we observe intercellular spaces in all the segments of the fat body, as well as high protein concentrations-especially in the sternite. As expected, the rebels combined many features of the queens and normal workers, what with other findings can help understand the ways that led to the origin of different castes in females of eusocial Hymenoptera.

The predicted collagen-binding domains of Drosophila SPARC are essential for survival and for collagen IV distribution and assembly into basement membranes

The assembly of basement membranes (BMs) into tissue-specific morphoregulatory structures requires non-core BM components. Work in Drosophila indicates a principal role of collagen-binding matricellular glycoprotein SPARC (Secreted Protein, Acidic, Rich in Cysteine) in larval fat body BM assembly. We report that SPARC and collagen IV (Col(IV)) first colocalize in the trans-Golgi of hemocyte-like cell lines. Mutating the collagen-binding domains of Drosophila SPARC led to the loss of colocalization with Col(IV), a fibrotic-like BM, and 2^nd instar larval lethality, indicating that SPARC binding to Col(IV) is essential for survival. Analysis of this mutant at 2^nd instar reveals increased Col(IV) puncta within adipocytes, reflecting a disruption in the intracellular chaperone-like activity of SPARC. Removal of the disulfide bridge in the C-terminal EF-hand2 of SPARC, which is known to enhance Col(IV) binding, did not lead to larval lethality; however, a less intense fat body phenotype was observed. Additionally, both SPARC mutants exhibited altered fat body BM pore topography. Wing imaginal disc-derived SPARC did not localize within Col(IV)-rich matrices. This raises the possibility that SPARC interaction with Col(IV) requires initial intracellular interaction to colocalize at the BM or that wing-derived SPARC undergoes differential post-translational modifications that impacts its function. Collectively, these data provide evidence that the chaperone-like activity of SPARC on Col(IV) begins just prior to their co-secretion and demonstrate for the first time that the Col(IV) chaperone-like activity of SPARC is necessary for Drosophila development beyond the 2^nd instar.

Novel host immune evasion strategy of the endoparasitoid Drino inconspicuoides

The tachinid fly Drino inconspicuoides (Diptera: Tachinidae) is an ovolarviparous endoparasitoid whose larvae develop in the host haemocoel and avoids the host immune system. In this study, we investigated the immune evasion mechanisms of this species during infestation in the host Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). We discovered a unique 'cloak' that surrounded D. inconspicuoides larvae that penetrated into the host and determined through genomic polymerase chain reaction analysis that this structure originated from the host rather than the tachinid. The 'cloak' contained both haemocytes and fat body cells from the host, with the haemocytes assembling around the larvae first and the fat body cells then covering the haemocyte layer, following which the two mixed. Living D. inconspicuoides larvae that were wrapped in the 'cloak' were not melanized whereas encapsulated dead larvae were melanized, suggesting that this structure contributes to the avoidance of host immune reactions.

The Fat Body of the Hematophagous Insect, Panstrongylus megistus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae): Histological Features and Participation of the β-Chain of ATP Synthase in the Lipophorin-Mediated Lipid Transfer

In insects, lipid transfer to the tissues is mediated by lipophorin, the major circulating lipoprotein, mainly through a nonendocytic pathway involving docking receptors. Currently, the role of such receptors in lipid metabolism remains poorly understood. In this work, we performed a histological characterization of the fat body of the Chagas' disease vector, Panstrongylus megistus (Burmeister), subjected to different nutritional conditions. In addition, we addressed the role of the β-chain of ATP synthase (β-ATPase) in the process of lipid transfer from lipophorin to the fat body. Fifth-instar nymphs in either fasting or fed condition were employed in the assays. Histological examination revealed that the fat body was composed by diverse trophocyte phenotypes. In the fasting condition, the cells were smaller and presented a homogeneous cytoplasmic content. The fat body of fed insects increased in size mainly due to the enlargement of lipid stores. In this condition, trophocytes contained abundant lipid droplets, and the rough endoplasmic reticulum was highly developed and mitochondria appeared elongated. Immunofluorescence assays showed that the β-ATPase, a putative lipophorin receptor, was located on the surface of fat body cells colocalizing partially with lipophorin, which suggests their interaction. No changes in β-ATPase expression were found in fasting and fed insects. Blocking the lipophorin-β-ATPase interaction impaired the lipophorin-mediated lipid transfer to the fat body. The results showed that the nutritional status of the insect influenced the morphohistological features of the tissue. Besides, these findings suggest that β-ATPase functions as a lipophorin docking receptor in the fat body.

Pest and natural enemy: how the fat bodies of both the southern armyworm Spodoptera eridania and the predator Ceraeochrysa claveri react to azadirachtin exposure

The effects of biopesticides on insects can be demonstrated by morphological and ultrastructural tools in ecotoxicological analysis. Azadirachtin-based products are widely used as biopesticides, affecting numerous insect populations. Through morphological biomarkers, this study aimed to characterize the fat bodies of both the southern armyworm Spodoptera eridania and the predator Ceraeochrysa claveri after chronic exposure to azadirachtin. Larvae of S. eridania and C. claveri were fed with fresh purple lettuce leaves (Lactuca sativa) and egg clusters of Diatraea saccharalis treated with azadirachtin solution of 6 mg active ingredient (a.i.)/L and 18 mg a.i./L for 7 days, respectively. The biological data showed a significant reduction in survival and body mass in S. eridania and cytotoxic effects in the parietal and perivisceral fat bodies in both species. Ultrastructural cell damage was observed in the trophocytes of both species such as dilated cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and swollen mitochondria. Trophocytes of S. eridania and C. claveri of the parietal and perivisceral layers responded to those injuries by different cytoprotective and detoxification means such as an increase in the amount of cytoplasmic granules containing calcium, expression of heat shock protein (HSP)70/HSP90, and development of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Despite all the different means of cytoprotection and detoxification, they were not sufficient to recover from all the cellular damages. Azadirachtin exhibited an excellent performance for the control of S. eridania and a moderate selectivity for the predator C. claveri, which presents better biological and cytoprotective responses to chronic exposure to azadirachtin.

Characterization of fat body cells at different developmental stages of Culex pipiens

The fat body, originates from mesoderm, has many metabolic functions which changes as the embryonic development of the insect progresses. It plays an important role in the intermediate metabolism and in the metabolism of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. It has roles in synthesis, absorption and storage of nutrients from hemolymph. It is also responsible for the production of immunological system components, antibacterial compounds and blood clotting proteins. The most common type of fat body cells are trophocytes (the basic cells of the fat body) and oenocytes are found associated with the fat body. In this study, it is aimed at determining the cell types contained in the fat body of Culex pipiens at different developmental stages as well as identifying the molecules such as carbohydrate, protein and lipid contained in each of these cells. Knowing the regional distribution of the fat body cells and the concentration of its content at each developmental stage is important in understanding the process related to its physiology and it may help in fighting against the pest C. pipiens, which is a vector species for many contagious diseases observed in humans and other species. To achieve our goal, we have employed different histochemical techniques (fixatives and staining methods) for staining C. pipiens preparates of different developmental stages and analyzed the structure of the fat body, its distribution, its cell types and the macromolecular contents of the cells. We only observed trophocytes and oenocytes as fat body components in C. pipiens. The trophocytes had all the three macromolecules (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates) in the cytoplasm varying in concentration between the different regions and different stages. The oenocytes were observed below the integument as well as between the muscles in the larvae of Culex pipiens. They were present either as single cells or in clusters and also varied in size. Their cytoplasm was stained strongly for proteins when bromophenol blue staining was applied, but it was rather heterogeneous due to the lipid inclusions. On the contrary, oenocytes were not observed among the adult C. pipiens preparations.

Juvenile hormone promotes locust fat body cell polyploidization and vitellogenesis by activating the transcription of Cdk6 and E2f1

Juvenile hormone (JH) is known to promote cell polyploidization for insect vitellogenesis and egg production, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using the migratory locust Locusta migratoria as a model system, we report here that the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (Cdk6) and adenovirus E2 factor-1 (E2f1), the core mediators in cell cycle progression is regulated by JH and its receptor Methoprene-tolerant (Met). JH acts through its receptor complex comprised of Met and Taiman to directly activate the transcription of Cdk6 and E2f1. Depletion of Cdk6 or E2f1 results in significantly decreased ploidy, precocious mitotic entry and increased cell numbers in the fat body, accompanied by substantial reduction of Vitellogenin gene expression, blocked ovarian growth and arrested oocyte maturation. These findings indicate a crucial role of Cdk6 and E2f1 in JH-regulated polyploidization and vitellogenesis as well as a novel regulatory machinery for endocycling in insects.

Matrix metalloproteinases promote fat body cell dissociation and ovary development in Bombyx mori

Matrix metalloproteinases (Mmps) are pivotal extracellular proteinases participating in tissue remodeling. Three Mmps genes have been identified from the silkworm, Bombyx mori, and their expression levels and enzyme activity are consistent with progressive fat body cell dissociation during the early pupal stages. Using both loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments, we have demonstrated that Mmps are functionally required for fat body cell dissociation and ovary development in female pupae. Moderate inhibition of Mmps activity via inhibitor treatments delayed fat body cell dissociation and ovary development, while severe inhibition blocked these developmental processes and eventually led to pupal lethality. Individual RNAi knockdown of each Mmp delayed fat body cell dissociation, with the strongest and weakest phenotypes occurring for Mmp3 and Mmp1, respectively. By contrast, overexpression of each Mmp promoted fat body cell dissociation and ovary development, with the strongest stimulatory effects for Mmp3 overexpression and the weakest effects for Mmp1 overexpression. This is the first time to show that Mmps induce fat body cell dissociation in Lepidoptera, and we also hypothesize that Mmps-induced fat body cell dissociation is required for ovary development in this insect species.

Role for Transferrin in Triggering Apoptosis in Helicoverpa armigera Cells Treated with 2-Tridecanone

2-Tridecanone, a plant allelochemical present in a large range of tomato species ( Lycopersicon hirsutum f. glabratum), can induce the expression of Helicoverpa armigera transferrin ( HaTrf), which is necessary for insect growth and development. To gain further insight into the mechanism of HaTrf in response to 2-tridecanone, we measured the iron and H₂O₂ levels in the hemolymph during exposure to 2-tridecanone and then explored the effect of transferrin downregulation in a H. armigera fat body cell line exposed to 2-tridecanone. We found that the reduction of HaTrf levels via RNA interference caused rapid apoptotic cell death during exposure to 2-tridecanone. There have been no reports about transferrin genes related to apoptosis induced by plant allelochemicals. Our results indicate that HaTrf mediates the inhibition of apoptotic cell death during exposure to 2-tridecanone and provides insight into the importance of transferrin in the interaction between plants and insects.

Fat Body Cells Are Motile and Actively Migrate to Wounds to Drive Repair and Prevent Infection

Adipocytes have many functions in various tissues beyond energy storage, including regulating metabolism, growth, and immunity. However, little is known about their role in wound healing. Here we use live imaging of fat body cells, the equivalent of vertebrate adipocytes in Drosophila, to investigate their potential behaviors and functions following skin wounding. We find that pupal fat body cells are not immotile, as previously presumed, but actively migrate to wounds using an unusual adhesion-independent, actomyosin-driven, peristaltic mode of motility. Once at the wound, fat body cells collaborate with hemocytes, Drosophila macrophages, to clear the wound of cell debris; they also tightly seal the epithelial wound gap and locally release antimicrobial peptides to fight wound infection. Thus, fat body cells are motile cells, enabling them to migrate to wounds to undertake several local functions needed to drive wound repair and prevent infections.

E2F/DP Prevents Cell-Cycle Progression in Endocycling Fat Body Cells by Suppressing dATM Expression

To understand the consequences of the complete elimination of E2F regulation, we profiled the proteome of Drosophila dDP mutants that lack functional E2F/DP complexes. The results uncovered changes in the larval fat body, a differentiated tissue that grows via endocycles. We report an unexpected mechanism of E2F/DP action that promotes quiescence in this tissue. In the fat body, dE2F/dDP limits cell-cycle progression by suppressing DNA damage responses. Loss of dDP upregulates dATM, allowing cells to sense and repair DNA damage and increasing replication of loci that are normally under-replicated in wild-type tissues. Genetic experiments show that ectopic dATM is sufficient to promote DNA synthesis in wild-type fat body cells. Strikingly, reducing dATM levels in dDP-deficient fat bodies restores cell-cycle control, improves tissue morphology, and extends animal development. These results show that, in some cellular contexts, dE2F/dDP-dependent suppression of DNA damage signaling is key for cell-cycle control and needed for normal development.

Mitochondria response to camptothecin and hydroxycamptothecine-induced apoptosis in Spodoptera exigua cells

Camptothecin (CPT), a natural alkaloid extracted from Camptotheca acuminata Decne, exhibits potential insecticidal activities against various insect species. Our previous studies have showed that CPTs induced apoptosis in Spodoptera exigua Hübner cell line which is mediated preliminarily by the mitochondrial pathway. In this study, changes of mitochondrial morphologic and function were investigated to characterize mitochondrial responses in CPTs induced apoptosis. After incubation IOZCAS-Spex-II cells with CPT and HCPT, mitochondria exhibited obvious changes in the size, morphology and distribution, and ultrastructural alterations characterized by disruption of cristae and membrane. The typical characteristics of apoptosis, including chromatin condensation, nucleus shrivels, and cytoplasmic vacuoles were found. CPT and HCPT induced IOZCAS-Spex-II cell apoptosis accompanied with increased dramatically cytosolic Ca²⁺ and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential in the dose and time-dependent pattern. Cytochrome c release induced by CPT and HCPT was partially reduced in the presence of CsA, which suggested that the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Taken together, these results suggested the role of mitochondria in regulation of insect cell apoptosis, which provided the basic information for illustrating the apoptosis pathway in insects and for using reasonably CPTs to control insect pests.

Relevant principal factors affecting the reproducibility of insect primary culture

The primary culture of insect cells often suffers from problems with poor reproducibility in the quality of the final cell preparations. The cellular composition of the explants (cell number and cell types), surgical methods (surgical duration and surgical isolation), and physiological and genetic differences between donors may be critical factors affecting the reproducibility of culture. However, little is known about where biological variation (interindividual differences between donors) ends and technical variation (variance in replication of culture conditions) begins. In this study, we cultured larval fat bodies from the Japanese rhinoceros beetle, Allomyrina dichotoma, and evaluated, using linear mixed models, the effect of interindividual variation between donors on the reproducibility of the culture. We also performed transcriptome analysis of the hemocyte-like cells mainly seen in the cultures using RNA sequencing and ultrastructural analyses of hemocytes using a transmission electron microscope, revealing that the cultured cells have many characteristics of insect hemocytes.

Mitochondrial structure and dynamics as critical factors in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) caste development

The relationship between nutrition and phenotype is an especially challenging question in cases of facultative polyphenism, like the castes of social insects. In the honey bee, Apis mellifera, unexpected modifications in conserved signaling pathways revealed the hypoxia response as a possible mechanism underlying the regulation of body size and organ growth. Hence, the current study was designed to investigate possible causes of why the three hypoxia core genes are overexpressed in worker larvae. Parting from the hypothesis that this has an endogenous cause and is not due to differences in external oxygen levels we investigated mitochondrial numbers and distribution, as well as mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates in fat body cells of queen and worker larvae during the caste fate-critical larval stages. By immunofluorescence and electron microscopy we found higher densities of mitochondria in queen larval fat body, a finding further confirmed by a citrate synthase assay quantifying mitochondrial functional units. Oxygen consumption measurements by high-resolution respirometry revealed that queen larvae have higher maximum capacities of ATP production at lower physiological demand. Finally, the expression analysis of mitogenesis-related factors showed that the honey bee TFB1 and TFB2 homologs, and a nutritional regulator, ERR, are overexpressed in queen larvae. These results are strong evidence that the differential nutrition of queen and worker larvae by nurse bees affects mitochondrial dynamics and functionality in the fat body of these larvae, hence explaining their differential hypoxia response.

BmPLA2 containing conserved domain WD40 affects the metabolic functions of fat body tissue in silkworm, Bombyx mori

PLA2 enzyme hydrolyzes arachidonic acid, and other polyunsaturated fatty acids, from the sn-2 position to release free arachidonic acid and a lysophospholipid. Previous studies reported that the PLA2 in invertebrate organisms participates in lipid signaling molecules like arachidonic acid release in immune-associated tissues like hemocytes and fat bodies. In the present study, we cloned the BmPLA2 gene from fat body tissue of silkworm Bombyx mori, which has a total sequence of 1.031 kb with a 31.90 kDa protein. In silico results of BmPLA2 indicated that the protein has a putative WD40 conserved domain and its phylogeny tree clustered with Danaus plexippus species. We investigated the transcriptional expression in development stages and tissues. The highest expression of BmPLA2 was screened in fat body among the studied tissues of third day fifth instar larva, with a high expression on third day fifth instar larva followed by a depression of expression in the wandering stage of the fifth instar larva. The expression of BmPLA2 in female pupa was higher than that of male pupa. Our RNAi-mediated gene silencing results showed highest reduction of BmPLA2 expression in post-24 h followed by post-48 and post-72 h. The BmPLA2-RNAi larvae and pupa could be characterized by pharate adult lethality and underdevelopment. The phenotypic characters of fat body cells in RNAi-induced larva implied that BmPLA2 affects the metabolic functions of fat body tissue in silkworm Bombyx mori.

Primed Immune Responses Triggered by Ingested Bacteria Lead to Systemic Infection Tolerance in Silkworms

In the present study, we examined whether microorganisms collaterally ingested by insects with their food activate the innate immune system to confer systemic resistance against subsequent bacterial invasion. Silkworms orally administered heat-killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells showed resistance against intra-hemolymph infection by P. aeruginosa. Oral administration of peptidoglycans, cell wall components of P. aeruginosa, conferred protective effects against P. aeruginosa infection, whereas oral administration of lipopolysaccharides, bacterial surface components, did not. In silkworms orally administered heat-killed P. aeruginosa cells, P. aeruginosa growth was inhibited in the hemolymph, and mRNA amounts of the antimicrobial peptides cecropin A and moricin were increased in the hemocytes and fat body. Furthermore, the amount of paralytic peptide, an insect cytokine that activates innate immune reactions, was increased in the hemolymph of silkworms orally administered heat-killed P. aeruginosa cells. These findings suggest that insects sense bacteria present in their food by peptidoglycan recognition, which activates systemic immune reactions to defend the insects against a second round of infection.

Edin Expression in the Fat Body Is Required in the Defense Against Parasitic Wasps in Drosophila melanogaster

The cellular immune response against parasitoid wasps in Drosophila involves the activation, mobilization, proliferation and differentiation of different blood cell types. Here, we have assessed the role of Edin (elevated during infection) in the immune response against the parasitoid wasp Leptopilina boulardi in Drosophila melanogaster larvae. The expression of edin was induced within hours after a wasp infection in larval fat bodies. Using tissue-specific RNAi, we show that Edin is an important determinant of the encapsulation response. Although edin expression in the fat body was required for the larvae to mount a normal encapsulation response, it was dispensable in hemocytes. Edin expression in the fat body was not required for lamellocyte differentiation, but it was needed for the increase in plasmatocyte numbers and for the release of sessile hemocytes into the hemolymph. We conclude that edin expression in the fat body affects the outcome of a wasp infection by regulating the increase of plasmatocyte numbers and the mobilization of sessile hemocytes in Drosophila larvae.

The events leading to a successful encapsulation of parasitoid wasp eggs in the larvae of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster are insufficiently understood. The formation of a capsule seals off the wasp egg, and this process is often functionally compared to the formation of granulomas in vertebrates. Like granuloma formation in humans, the encapsulation process in fruit flies requires the activation, mobilization, proliferation and differentiation of different blood cell types. Here, we have studied the role of Edin (elevated during infection) in the immune defense against the parasitoid wasp Leptopilina boulardi in Drosophila larvae. We demonstrate that edin expression in the fat body (an immune-responsive organ in Drosophila functionally resembling the mammalian liver) is required for a normal defense against wasp eggs. Edin is required for the release of blood cells from larval tissues and for the subsequent increase in circulating blood cell numbers. Our results provide new knowledge of how the encapsulation process is regulated in Drosophila, and how blood cells are activated upon wasp parasitism. Understanding of the encapsulation process in invertebrates may eventually lead to a better knowledge of the pathophysiology of granuloma formation in human diseases, such as tuberculosis.

Melipona quadrifasciata (Hymenoptera: Apidae) fat body persists through metamorphosis with a few apoptotic cells and an increased autophagy

Fat body, typically comprising trophocytes, provides energy during metamorphosis. The fat body can be renewed once the larval phase is complete or recycled and relocated to form the fat body of the adult insect. This study aims to identify the class of programmed cell death that occurs within the fat body cells during the metamorphosis of the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata. Using immunodetection techniques, the fat body of the post-defecating larvae and the white-, pink-, brown-, and black-eyed pupae were tested for cleaved caspase-3 and DNA integrity, followed by ultrastructural analysis and identification of autophagy using RT-PCR for the Atg1 gene. The fat body of M. quadrifasciata showed some apoptotic cells positive for cleaved caspase-3, although without DNA fragmentation. During development, the fat body cells revealed an increased number of mitochondria and free ribosomes, in addition to higher amounts of autophagy Atg1 mRNA, than that of the pupae. The fat body of M. quadrifasciata showed few cells which underwent apoptosis, but there was evidence of increased autophagy at the completion of the larval stage. All together, these data show that some fat body cells persist during metamorphosis in the stingless bee M. quadrifasciata.

Insulin stimulates translocation of human GLUT4 to the membrane in fat bodies of transgenic Drosophila melanogaster

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is an excellent model system for studies of genes controlling development and disease. However, its applicability to physiological systems is less clear because of metabolic differences between insects and mammals. Insulin signaling has been studied in mammals because of relevance to diabetes and other diseases but there are many parallels between mammalian and insect pathways. For example, deletion of Drosophila Insulin-Like Peptides resulted in 'diabetic' flies with elevated circulating sugar levels. Whether this situation reflects failure of sugar uptake into peripheral tissues as seen in mammals is unclear and depends upon whether flies harbor the machinery to mount mammalian-like insulin-dependent sugar uptake responses. Here we asked whether Drosophila fat cells are competent to respond to insulin with mammalian-like regulated trafficking of sugar transporters. Transgenic Drosophila expressing human glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4), the sugar transporter expressed primarily in insulin-responsive tissues, were generated. After expression in fat bodies, GLUT4 intracellular trafficking and localization were monitored by confocal and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM). We found that fat body cells responded to insulin with increased GLUT4 trafficking and translocation to the plasma membrane. While the amplitude of these responses was relatively weak in animals reared on a standard diet, it was greatly enhanced in animals reared on sugar-restricted diets, suggesting that flies fed standard diets are insulin resistant. Our findings demonstrate that flies are competent to mobilize translocation of sugar transporters to the cell surface in response to insulin. They suggest that Drosophila fat cells are primed for a response to insulin and that these pathways are down-regulated when animals are exposed to constant, high levels of sugar. Finally, these studies are the first to use TIRFM to monitor insulin-signaling pathways in Drosophila, demonstrating the utility of TIRFM of tagged sugar transporters to monitor signaling pathways in insects.

The effect of bacterial challenge on ferritin regulation in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti

Secreted ferritin is the major iron storage and transport protein in insects. Here, we characterize the message and protein expression profiles of yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) ferritin heavy chain homologue (HCH) and light chain homologue (LCH) subunits in response to iron and bacterial challenge. In vivo experiments demonstrated tissue-specific regulation of HCH and LCH expression over time post-blood meal (PBM). Transcriptional regulation of HCH and LCH was treatment specific, with differences in regulation for naïve versus mosquitoes challenged with heat-killed bacteria (HKB). Translational regulation by iron regulatory protein (IRP) binding activity for the iron-responsive element (IRE) was tissue-specific and time-dependent PBM. However, mosquitoes challenged with HKB showed little change in IRP/IRE binding activity compared to naïve animals. The changes in ferritin regulation and expression in vivo were confirmed with in vitro studies. We challenged mosquitoes with HKB followed by a blood meal to determine the effects on ferritin expression, and demonstrate a synergistic, time-dependent regulation of expression for HCH and LCH.

Roles of fat body trophocytes, mycetocytes and urocytes in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana under starvation conditions: an ultrastructural study

In insects, trophocytes (adipocytes) are major cells of a storage organ, the fat body, from which stored glycogen and lipids are mobilized under starvation. However, cockroaches have 2 additional types of cell in the fat body: mycetocytes harboring an endosymbiont, Blattabacterium cuenoti, and urocytes depositing uric acid in urate vacuoles. These cells have not been investigated in terms of their roles under starvation conditions. To gain insight into the roles of trophocytes, mycetocytes and urocytes in cockroaches, structural changes were first investigated in the cells associated with starvation in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, by light and electron microscopy. The area of lipid droplets in trophocytes, the endosymbiont population and mitotic activity in mycetocytes, and the area of urate vacuoles in urocytes were analyzed in association with survival rates of the starved cockroaches. After 2 weeks of starvation, trophocytes lost glycogen rosettes and their area of lipid droplets decreased, but almost all cockroaches survived this period. However, further starvation did not reduce the area, but the survival rates dropped rapidly and all cockroaches died in 7 weeks. Endosymbionts were not affected in terms of population size and mitotic activity, even if the cockroaches were dying. The area of urate vacuoles rapidly decreased in a week of starvation and did not recover upon further starvation. These results indicate that starved cockroaches mobilize glycogen and lipids stored in trophocytes to survive for 2 weeks and then die after the exhaustion of nutrients in these cells. Endosymbionts are not digested for the recycling of nutrients, but uric acid is reused under starvation.

The fat body of termites: functions and stored materials

The functions of the fat body in the different castes of termites, and accumulation of energy reserves, proteins and urates within this organ, are reviewed. The termite fat body is involved in multiple metabolic activities, including recycling of nitrogen. Termite fat body showed three different types of cells: adipocytes, urocytes and mycetocytes, the latter restricted to the species Mastotermes darwiniensis. Adipocytes synthesize and store lipids, glycogen and several proteins. These cells also elaborate important peptides, including some that act in immune processes. Urocytes are responsible for the storage of spherocrystals of urates, which vary quantitatively among the termite castes. The different metabolic functions of the fat body in the several castes and stages of termites are associated with specific adipocyte morphologies. The synthesis and storage of different compounds modify the structure of the fat body; this differentiation is coordinated by hormones involved with molting and reproductive cycles.

dMyc expression in the fat body affects DILP2 release and increases the expression of the fat desaturase Desat1 resulting in organismal growth

Drosophila dMyc (dMyc) is known for its role in cell-autonomous regulation of growth. Here we address its role in the fat body (FB), a metabolic tissue that functions as a sensor of circulating nutrients to control the release of Drosophila Insulin-like peptides (Dilps) from the brain influencing growth and development. Our results show that expression of dMyc in the FB affects development and animal size. Expression of dMyc, but not of CycD/cdk4 or Rheb, in the FB diminishes the ability to retain Drosophila Insulin-like peptide-2 (DILP2) in the brain during starvation, suggesting that expression of dMyc mimics the signal that remotely controls the release of Dilps into the hemolymph. dMyc also affects glucose metabolism and increases the transcription of Glucose-transporter-1 mRNA, and of Hexokinase and Pyruvate-Kinase mRNAs, key regulators of glycolysis. These animals are able to counteract the increased levels of circulating trehalose induced by a high sugar diet leading to the conclusion that dMyc activity in the FB promotes glucose disposal. dMyc expression induces cell autonomous accumulation of triglycerides, which correlates with increased levels of Fatty Acid Synthase and Acetyl CoA Carboxylase mRNAs, enzymes responsible for lipid synthesis. We also found the expression of Stearoyl-CoA desaturase, Desat1 mRNA significantly higher in FB overexpressing dMyc. Desat1 is an enzyme that is necessary for monosaturation and production of fatty acids, and its reduction affects dMyc's ability to induce fat storage and resistance to animal survival. In conclusion, here we present novel evidences for dMyc function in the Drosophila FB in controlling systemic growth. We discovered that dMyc expression triggers cell autonomous mechanisms that control glucose and lipid metabolism to favor the storage of nutrients (lipids and sugars). In addition, the regulation of Desat1 controls the synthesis of triglycerides in FB and this may affect the humoral signal that controls DILP2 release in the brain.

Drosophila ste-20 family protein kinase, hippo, modulates fat cell proliferation

Background

Evolutionarily conserved Hippo (Hpo) pathway plays a pivotal role in the control of organ size. Although the Hpo pathway regulates proliferation of a variety of epidermal cells, its function in non-ectoderm-derived cells is largely unknown.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Through methods including fat quantification assays, starvation assays, in vivo labeling assays, we show that overexpression of Hpo in Drosophila melanogaster fat body restricts Drosophila body growth and reduces fat storage through regulation of adipocyte proliferation rather than through influencing the size of fat cells and lipid metabolism, whereas compromising Hpo activity results in weight gain and greater fat storage. Furthermore, we provide evidence that Yorkie (Yki, a transcriptional coactivator that functions in the Hpo pathway) antagonizes Hpo to modulate fat storage in Drosophila.

Conclusions/Significance

Our findings specify a role of Hpo in controlling mesoderm-derived cell proliferation. The observed anti-obesity effects of Hpo may indicate great potential for its utilization in anti-obesity therapeutics.

dRYBP contributes to the negative regulation of the Drosophila Imd pathway

The Drosophila humoral innate immune response fights infection by producing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) through the microbe-specific activation of the Toll or the Imd signaling pathway. Upon systemic infection, the production of AMPs is both positively and negatively regulated to reach a balanced immune response required for survival. Here, we report the function of the dRYBP (drosophila Ring and YY1 Binding Protein) protein, which contains a ubiquitin-binding domain, in the Imd pathway. We have found that dRYBP contributes to the negative regulation of AMP production: upon systemic infection with Gram-negative bacteria, Diptericin expression is up-regulated in the absence of dRYBP and down-regulated in the presence of high levels of dRYBP. Epistatic analyses using gain and loss of function alleles of imd, Relish, or skpA and dRYBP suggest that dRYBP functions upstream or together with SKPA, a member of the SCF-E3-ubiquitin ligase complex, to repress the Imd signaling cascade. We propose that the role of dRYBP in the regulation of the Imd signaling pathway is to function as a ubiquitin adaptor protein together with SKPA to promote SCF-dependent proteasomal degradation of Relish. Beyond the identification of dRYBP as a novel component of Imd pathway regulation, our results also suggest that the evolutionarily conserved RYBP protein may be involved in the human innate immune response.

Drosophila melanogaster Acetyl-CoA-carboxylase sustains a fatty acid-dependent remote signal to waterproof the respiratory system

Fatty acid (FA) metabolism plays a central role in body homeostasis and related diseases. Thus, FA metabolic enzymes are attractive targets for drug therapy. Mouse studies on Acetyl-coenzymeA-carboxylase (ACC), the rate-limiting enzyme for FA synthesis, have highlighted its homeostatic role in liver and adipose tissue. We took advantage of the powerful genetics of Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the role of the unique Drosophila ACC homologue in the fat body and the oenocytes. The fat body accomplishes hepatic and storage functions, whereas the oenocytes are proposed to produce the cuticular lipids and to contribute to the hepatic function. RNA–interfering disruption of ACC in the fat body does not affect viability but does result in a dramatic reduction in triglyceride storage and a concurrent increase in glycogen accumulation. These metabolic perturbations further highlight the role of triglyceride and glycogen storage in controlling circulatory sugar levels, thereby validating Drosophila as a relevant model to explore the tissue-specific function of FA metabolic enzymes. In contrast, ACC disruption in the oenocytes through RNA–interference or tissue-targeted mutation induces lethality, as does oenocyte ablation. Surprisingly, this lethality is associated with a failure in the watertightness of the spiracles—the organs controlling the entry of air into the trachea. At the cellular level, we have observed that, in defective spiracles, lipids fail to transfer from the spiracular gland to the point of air entry. This phenotype is caused by disrupted synthesis of a putative very-long-chain-FA (VLCFA) within the oenocytes, which ultimately results in a lethal anoxic issue. Preventing liquid entry into respiratory systems is a universal issue for air-breathing animals. Here, we have shown that, in Drosophila, this process is controlled by a putative VLCFA produced within the oenocytes.

Fatty acid homeostasis is deregulated in several human diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and most cancers. Therefore, the enzymes that catalyze the reactions of fatty acid metabolism constitute attractive targets for drug therapy. However, the development of novel inhibitors requires extensive analysis of the organ-specific functions of the targeted enzyme. Given the availability of genetic tools, the fruit fly Drosophila is an appropriate model system to investigate the physiological and developmental roles of metabolic enzymes. Here we studied a Drosophila homologue of a rate-limiting enzyme for fatty acid synthesis. We have shown that this enzyme is necessary to control the storage of lipids in the fat tissue, validating our system to study fatty acid metabolism. We further observed that this enzyme is essential in the oenocytes, a group of cells proposed to contribute to the hepatic function and to the formation of the cuticle. Furthermore, we have shown that a putative fatty acid produced in these cells is required to control, at a distance, the watertightness of the respiratory system. In summary, our study identifies a novel fatty acid-mediated signal necessary to prevent liquid accumulation in the respiratory system, a critical issue for all air-breathing animals.

Alterations in the fat body cells of Rhinocricus padbergi (Diplopoda) resulting from exposure to substrate containing sewage sludge

The final disposal of residues generated at sewage treatment plants (STPs) has become a major problem for cities, due to the increase in the amount of treated sewage. One of the alternatives for the residue, labeled "sewage sludge," is its reuse in agriculture and in degraded soil. However, not all pathogens and metals present in it are eliminated during treatment. Diplopods have been used as bioindicators in ecotoxicological tests as they are constantly in close contact with the soil. Owing to this fact, the purpose of this study was to expose specimens of the diplopod Rhinocricus padbergi to substrate containing sewage sludge collected at STPs to analyze morphological alterations in their parietal and perivisceral fat body, where substances are stored. The exposures were held for 7, 15, or 90 days at different concentrations of sewage sludge (control, 1%, 10%, and 50%). The parietal fat body showed no alterations in any of the three exposure periods or concentrations. Alterations in the perivisceral fat body were observed for all exposure periods. According to the results, we suggest that the sludge used has toxic agents responsible for changing the animal's perivisceral fat body.

Distinct roles of isoforms of the heme-liganded nuclear receptor E75, an insect ortholog of the vertebrate Rev-erb, in mosquito reproduction

Mosquitoes are adapted to using vertebrate blood as a nutrient source to promote egg development and as a consequence serve as disease vectors. Blood-meal activated reproductive events in female mosquitoes are hormonally and nutritionally controlled with an insect steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) playing a central role. The nuclear receptor E75 is an essential factor in the 20E genetic hierarchy, however functions of its three isoforms - E75A, E75B, and E75C - in mosquito reproduction are unclear. By means of specific RNA interference depletion of E75 isoforms, we identified their distinct roles in regulating the level and timing of expression of key genes involved in vitellogenesis in the fat body (an insect analog of vertebrate liver and adipose tissue) of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Heme is required in a high level of expression of 20E-controlled genes in the fat body, and this heme action depends on E75. Thus, in mosquitoes, heme is an important signaling molecule, serving as a sensor of the availability of a protein meal for egg development. Disruption of this signaling pathway could be explored in the design of mosquito control approaches.

Midgut and fat body bacteriocytes in neotropical cerambycid beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Xylophagous insects derive nutrients from intractable substrates by producing or ingesting cellulolytic enzymes, or by maintaining associations with symbiotic microbes. Wood-boring cerambycid beetle larvae sometimes house maternally-transmitted endosymbiotic yeasts that are presumed to provide their hosts with nutritional benefits. These are thought to be absent from species in the large subfamily Lamiinae; nevertheless yeasts have been repeatedly isolated from the guts of neotropical lamiines. The objective of this study was to conduct transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies of cerambycid larval midgut tissues to determine if gut yeasts were intracellular, or simply present in the gut lumen. Nine cerambycid larvae were harvested from two trees in the Brazil nut family (Lecythidaceae) in the rain forest of SE Peru; seven were identified using mtDNA sequence data and processed for TEM. Yeasts cultured from larval frass or exuvia, and identified with rDNA sequence data, were identical or similar to yeasts previously isolated from beetles. In TEM analyses yeast cells were found only in the gut lumens, sometimes associated with fragments of thick-walled xylem cells. Apparent bacteriocytes were found in either midgut or fat body tissue of three larval specimens, including two lamiines. This is the first report of a potential fat body symbiosis in a cerambycid beetle. Future studies of cerambycid symbiosis should distinguish the identities and potential roles of free-living organisms in the gut lumen from those of organisms harbored within gut epithelial or fat body tissue.

Larval fat body cells die during the early pupal stage in the frame of metamorphosis remodelation in Bombyx mori

In holometabolus insects, morphology of the larval fat body is remodeled during metamorphosis. In higher Diptera, remodeling of the fat body is achieved by cell death of larval fat body cells and differentiation of the adult fat body from primordial cells. However, little is known about remodeling of the fat body at pupal metamorphosis in Lepidoptera. In this study, we found that cell death of the larval fat body in Bombyx mori occurs at shortly after pupation. About 30% of the fat body cells underwent cell death on days 1 and 2 after pupation. The cell death involved genomic DNA fragmentation, a characteristic of apoptosis. Surgical manipulation and in vitro culture of fat body cells revealed that 20-hydroxyecdysone and juvenile hormone had no effect on either initiation or progression of cell death. During cell death, a large increase in activity of caspase-3, a key enzyme of cell death, was observed. Western blot analysis of the active form of caspase-3-like protein revealed that the length of caspase-3 of B. mori was much larger than that of caspase-3 in other species. The results suggest that larval fat body cells of B. mori are removed through cell death, which is mediated by a caspase probably categorized in a novel family.

[Induction of antimicrobial peptide synthesis by fat body cells in Calliphora vicina R.-D. (diptera, calliphoridae) larvae]

The fat body is the main place of synthesis if peptide antibiotics in insects. The goal of the present study was the search in the body of the larva Calliphora vicina for humoral factors inducing synthesis of antimicrobial peptides by fat body cells during trauma. The preliminary analysis has shown that the activation factor revealed in hemolymph is the thermostable hydrophilic compound with molecular mass less than 3 kDa. According to results of experiments, the integument epitheliocytes and hemocytes also release the humoral factors directly stimulating synthesis of antimicrobial peptides by fat body.

Shaping cells and organs in Drosophila by opposing roles of fat body-secreted Collagen IV and perlecan

Basement membranes (BMs) are resilient polymer structures that surround organs in all animals. Tissues, however, undergo extensive morphological changes during development. It is not known whether the assembly of BM components plays an active morphogenetic role. To study in vivo the biogenesis and assembly of Collagen IV, the main constituent of BMs, we used a GFP-based RNAi method (iGFPi) designed to knock down any GFP-trapped protein in Drosophila. We found with this method that Collagen IV is synthesized by the fat body, secreted to the hemolymph (insect blood), and continuously incorporated into the BMs of the larva. We also show that incorporation of Collagen IV determines organ shape, first by mechanically constricting cells and second through recruitment of Perlecan, which counters constriction by Collagen IV. Our results uncover incorporation of Collagen IV and Perlecan into BMs as a major determinant of organ shape and animal form.

Drosophila melanogaster as a model system for studies of islet amyloid polypeptide aggregation

Background

Recent research supports that aggregation of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) leads to cell death and this makes islet amyloid a plausible cause for the reduction of beta cell mass, demonstrated in patients with type 2 diabetes. IAPP is produced by the beta cells as a prohormone, and proIAPP is processed into IAPP by the prohormone convertases PC1/3 and PC2 in the secretory granules. Little is known about the pathogenesis for islet amyloid and which intracellular mechanisms are involved in amyloidogenesis and induction of cell death.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We have established expression of human proIAPP (hproIAPP), human IAPP (hIAPP) and the non-amyloidogenic mouse IAPP (mIAPP) in Drosophila melanogaster, and compared survival of flies with the expression driven to different cell populations. Only flies expressing hproIAPP in neurons driven by the Gal4 driver elav^C155,Gal4 showed a reduction in lifespan whereas neither expression of hIAPP or mIAPP influenced survival. Both hIAPP and hproIAPP expression caused formation of aggregates in CNS and fat body region, and these aggregates were both stained by the dyes Congo red and pFTAA, both known to detect amyloid. Also, the morphology of the highly organized protein granules that developed in the fat body of the head in hIAPP and hproIAPP expressing flies was characterized, and determined to consist of 15.8 nm thick pentagonal rod-like structures.

Conclusions/Significance

These findings point to a potential for Drosophila melanogaster to serve as a model system for studies of hproIAPP and hIAPP expression with subsequent aggregation and developed pathology.

Insulin-like peptide genes in honey bee fat body respond differently to manipulation of social behavioral physiology

Nutrient sensitive insulin-like peptides (ILPs) have profound effects on invertebrate metabolism, nutrient storage, fertility and aging. Many insects transcribe ILPs in specialized neurosecretory cells at changing levels correlated with life history. However, the major site of insect metabolism and nutrient storage is not the brain, but rather the fat body, where functions of ILP expression are rarely studied and poorly understood. Fat body is analogous to mammalian liver and adipose tissue, with nutrient stores that often correlate with behavior. We used the honey bee (Apis mellifera), an insect with complex behavior, to test whether ILP genes in fat body respond to experimentally induced changes of behavioral physiology. Honey bee fat body influences endocrine state and behavior by secreting the yolk protein precursor vitellogenin (Vg), which suppresses lipophilic juvenile hormone and social foraging behavior. In a two-factorial experiment, we used RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated vg gene knockdown and amino acid nutrient enrichment of hemolymph (blood) to perturb this regulatory module. We document factor-specific changes in fat body ilp1 and ilp2 mRNA, the bee's ILP-encoding genes, and confirm that our protocol affects social behavior. We show that ilp1 and ilp2 are regulated independently and differently and diverge in their specific expression-localization between fat body oenocyte and trophocyte cells. Insect ilp functions may be better understood by broadening research to account for expression in fat body and not only brain.

Ecdysteroid biosynthesis in workers of the European honeybee Apis mellifera L

We previously reported preferential expression of genes for ecdysteroid signaling in the mushroom bodies of honeybee workers, suggesting a role of ecdysteroid signaling in regulating honeybee behaviors. The organs that produce ecdysteroids in worker honeybees, however, remain unknown. We show here that the expression of neverland and Non-molting glossy/shroud, which are involved in early steps of ecdysteroid synthesis, was enhanced in the ovary, while the expression of CYP306A1 and CYP302A1, which are involved in later steps of ecdysone synthesis, was enhanced in the brain, and the expression of CYP314A1, which is involved in converting ecdysone into active 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), was enhanced in the brain, fat body, and ovary. In in vitro organ culture, a significant amount of ecdysteroids was detected in the culture medium of the brain, fat body, and hypopharyngeal glands. The ecdysteroids detected in the culture medium of the fat body were identified as ecdysone and 20E. These findings suggest that, in worker honeybees, cholesterol is converted into intermediate ecdysteroids in the ovary, whereas ecdysone is synthesized and secreted mainly by the brain and converted into 20E in the brain and fat body.

Placenta-like structure of the aphid endoparasitic wasp Aphidius ervi: a strategy of optimal resources acquisition

Aphidius ervi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an entomophagous parasitoid known to be an effective parasitoid of several aphid species of economic importance. A reduction of its production cost during mass rearing for inundative release is needed to improve its use in biological control of pests. In these contexts, a careful analysis of its entire development phases within its host is needed. This paper shows that this parasitoid has some characteristics in its embryological development rather complex and different from most other reported insects, which can be phylogenetically very close. First, its yolkless egg allows a high fecundity of the female but force them to hatch from the egg shell rapidly to the host hemocoel. An early cellularisation allowing a rapid differentiation of a serosa membrane seems to confirm this hypothesis. The serosa wraps the developing embryo until the first instar larva stage and invades the host tissues by microvilli projections and form a placenta like structure able to divert host resources and allowing nutrition and respiration of embryo. Such interspecific invasion, at the cellular level, recalls mammal's trophoblasts that anchors maternal uterine wall and underlines the high adaptation of A. ervi to develop in the host body.

Role of the fat body in the cave crickets Troglophilus cavicola and Troglophilus neglectus (Rhaphidophoridae, Saltatoria) during overwintering

The cave crickets Troglophilus cavicola and Troglophilus neglectus are the most widely distributed European species of the family Rhaphidophoridae. Their life cycles span two years. They overwinter twice in caves in 4-6 months lasting diapause, T. cavicola in warmer microhabitats. In caves, older T. cavicola undergo sexual maturation, while T. neglectus do not. We hypothesized that the use of energy-supplying compounds and reserve proteins in the fat body is more extensive in T. cavicola than in T. neglectus. We analyzed the contents and morphology of lipid droplets, glycogen rosettes and protein granula at the beginning, the middle and the end of overwintering applying optic, TEM and biochemical methods. In all individuals, the fat body is composed of about 40 oval ribbons consisted of gradually changing adipocytes and urocytes. T. cavicola use glycogen continuously, and stop using lipids in the middle of overwintering, while this is inverse in T. neglectus. Till the middle of overwintering, all individuals exploit proteins, afterwards they are unevenly exploited. We found that the fat body is differently engaged in metabolism of both cave crickets during overwintering, supporting a more glycogen-dependent metabolism in T. cavicola, and a more lipid-dependent one in T. neglectus.

Functional characterization of cis-acting elements mediating flavone-inducible expression of CYP321A1

How plant allelochemicals elicit herbivore counterdefense genes remains largely unknown. To define the cis-acting elements for flavone inducibility of the allelochemical-metabolizing CYP321A1 from Helicoverpa zea, functions of varying length of CYP321A1 promoter are examined in H. zea fatbody cells. Progressive 3' deletions reveal presence of positive elements in the 5' untranslated region (UTR). Progressive 5' deletions map out regions of one essential element, four enhancers, and two silencers. Further progressive 5'deletions localize the essential element to a 36-bp region from -109 to -74. This essential element, designated as xenobiotic response element to flavone (XRE-Fla), contains a 5' AT-only TAAT inverted repeat, a GCT mirror repeat and a 3' antioxidant response element-like element. Internal deletions and substitution mutations show that the TAAT repeat is only necessary for the maximal flavone inducibility, whereas the other two components are necessary for the basal and flavone-induced expression of CYP321A1. Electrophoresis mobility shift assays demonstrate that XRE-Fla specifically binds to H. zea fatbody cell nuclear extracts and flavone treatment increases the nuclear concentrations of the yet-to-be characterized transcription factors binding to XRE-Fla. Taken together, CYP321A1 expression is regulated primarily by XRE-Fla and secondarily by other cis elements scattered in its promoter and 5' UTR.

A buoyancy-based screen of Drosophila larvae for fat-storage mutants reveals a role for Sir2 in coupling fat storage to nutrient availability

Obesity has a strong genetic component, but few of the genes that predispose to obesity are known. Genetic screens in invertebrates have the potential to identify genes and pathways that regulate the levels of stored fat, many of which are likely to be conserved in humans. To facilitate such screens, we have developed a simple buoyancy-based screening method for identifying mutant Drosophila larvae with increased levels of stored fat. Using this approach, we have identified 66 genes that when mutated increase organismal fat levels. Among these was a sirtuin family member, Sir2. Sirtuins regulate the storage and metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids by deacetylating key regulatory proteins. However, since mammalian sirtuins function in many tissues in different ways, it has been difficult to define their role in energy homeostasis accurately under normal feeding conditions. We show that knockdown of Sir2 in the larval fat body results in increased fat levels. Moreover, using genetic mosaics, we demonstrate that Sir2 restricts fat accumulation in individual cells of the fat body in a cell-autonomous manner. Consistent with this function, changes in the expression of metabolic enzymes in Sir2 mutants point to a shift away from catabolism. Surprisingly, although Sir2 is typically upregulated under conditions of starvation, Sir2 mutant larvae survive better than wild type under conditions of amino-acid starvation as long as sugars are provided. Our findings point to a Sir2-mediated pathway that activates a catabolic response to amino-acid starvation irrespective of the sugar content of the diet.

Obesity is a major problem in affluent societies. In addition to dietary intake, there are clearly genetic factors that make some people more likely to become obese. At present, we have a poor understanding of what the genetic differences are that predispose some individuals to obesity. In order to discover genes that regulate the amount of stored fat, we have conducted a study using larvae of the fruit fly Drosophila and shown that 66 different genes, when mutated, cause these larvae to store more fat. For the majority of these genes, very similar genes exist in humans. We have also shown that the Sir2 gene has a role in protecting these larvae from storing excessive amounts of fat and that it does so by regulating the synthesis and breakdown of fat in individual cells of a tissue where fat is stored. Finally, we demonstrate a role for Sir2 in changing metabolism when certain types of nutrients (amino acids) are lacking in the diet.

Activation of autophagy during cell death requires the engulfment receptor Draper

Autophagy degrades cytoplasmic components that are required for cell survival in response to starvation. Autophagy has also been associated with cell death, but it is unclear how this is distinguished from autophagy during cell survival. Drosophila salivary glands undergo programmed cell death that requires autophagy genes, and engulfment of salivary gland cells by phagocytes does not appear to occur. Here we show that Draper (Drpr), the Drosophila melanogaster orthologue of the Caenorhabditis elegans engulfment receptor CED-1, is required for autophagy during cell death. Null mutations in, and salivary gland-specific knockdown of, drpr inhibit salivary gland degradation. Knockdown of drpr prevents the induction of autophagy in dying salivary glands, and expression of the Atg1 autophagy regulator in drpr mutants suppresses the failure in degradation of salivary glands. Surprisingly, drpr is required in the same dying salivary gland cells in which it regulates autophagy induction, but drpr knockdown does not prevent starvation-induced autophagy in the fat body, which is associated with survival. In addition, components of the conserved engulfment pathway are required for clearance of dying salivary glands. To our knowledge, this is the first example of an engulfment factor that is required for self-clearance of cells. Further, Drpr is the first factor that distinguishes autophagy that is associated with cell death from autophagy associated with cell survival.

Hormonal and nutritional regulation of insect fat body development and function

The insect fat body is an organ analogue to vertebrate adipose tissue and liver and functions as a major organ for nutrient storage and energy metabolism. Similar to other larval organs, fat body undergoes a developmental "remodeling" process during the period of insect metamorphosis, with the massive destruction of obsolete larval tissues by programmed cell death and the simultaneous growth and differentiation of adult tissues from small clusters of progenitor cells. Genetic ablation of Drosophila fat body cells during larval-pupal transition results in lethality at the late pupal stage and changes sizes of other larval organs indicating that fat body is the center for pupal development and adult formation. Fat body development and function are largely regulated by several hormonal (i.e. insulin and ecdysteroids) and nutritional signals, including oncogenes and tumor suppressors in these pathways. Combining silkworm physiology with fruitfly genetics might provide a valuable system to understand the mystery of hormonal regulation of insect fat body development and function.

A new cell line from larval fat bodies of the bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

A new cell line, designated IOZCAS-Ha-I, was initiated from the fat body of larvae of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in TNM-FH medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. Spherical cells were predominant among the various cell types. The cell line showed a typical lepidopteran chromosome pattern ranging from 58 to 239 chromosomes in the majority of the cells. It was confirmed to have originated from the H. armigera by the DNA amplification- fingerprinting polymerase chain reaction (DAF-PCR) technique. The new cell line was only slightly susceptible to the multiple nucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPV) from H. armigera.

Fat body of Prorhinotermes simplex (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): Ultrastructure, inter-caste differences and lipid composition

Ultrastructure of the fat body was studied in following castes and developmental stages of Prorhinotermes simplex: larvae of the first and the second instar, pseudergates, presoldiers, soldiers, nymphs, imagoes and mature ergatoid neotenic reproductives of both sexes. Fat body always consists of two principal cell types: adipocytes and urocytes. Adipocytes are characterized by a presence of large amounts of storage substances, namely lipid droplets, glycogen rosettes and proteins in the form of either biocrystals or vacuoles. Proportion of these components strongly varies during ontogeny. Adipocytes are equipped by a large central vacuole in which lipid droplets may resolve. Cytoplasm of urocytes contain glycogen rosettes and spherical or irregular concretions, other organelles are rare. Only adipocytes change their inner structure in the course of ontogeny: amount of glycogen decreases during the postembryonic development, it is the major kind of inclusion in the larvae but lacks in nymphs and imagoes; opposite trend is performed by lipids. The changes in protein content are less obvious but are explained and discussed. The total amount of triacylglycerols (TAGs) was found to be roughly 100microg in a pseudergate, 250microg in a nymph, and 30microg in a soldier. The most abundant fatty acids in TAGs are oleic (O), stearic (S), palmitic (P) and linoleic (L) acid. TAGs form a complex mixture with OOO, OPO, OLO and OOS being the most abundant isomers. Only negligible differences exist among the castes.

Rapid cold-hardening increases membrane fluidity and cold tolerance of insect cells

The rapid cold-hardening (RCH) response not only confers dramatic protection against cold-shock (non-freezing) injury, but also "instantaneously" enhances organismal performance. Since cold-shock injury is associated with damage to the cell membrane, we investigated the relationship between RCH and changes in cold tolerance and membrane fluidity at the cellular level. None of the adult flies (Sarcophaga bullata) in the cold-shocked treatment group survived direct transfer to -8 degrees C for 2 h; in contrast, 64.5% of flies in the RCH group survived exposure to -8 degrees C. Differences between the treatment groups also were reflected at the cellular level; only 21.3% of fat body cells in the cold-shocked group survived compared to 68.5% in the RCH group. Using 31P solid-state NMR spectroscopy, we determined that membrane fluidity increased concurrently with rapid cold-hardening of fat body cells. This result suggests that membrane characteristics may be modified very rapidly to protect cells against cold-shock injury.

Fat-body remodeling in Drosophila melanogaster

The remodeling of the larval fat body is observed in many insects during metamorphosis, but little is known about the physiological importance or the regulation of this process. In Drosophila melanogaster, fat-body remodeling involves the dissociation of the fat body into individual fat cells, which persist throughout pupal development but are later removed by cell death in the young adult. Inhibition of fat-body dissociation is associated with pharate adult lethality and thus is likely to be an essential developmental event. As a start toward understanding the role of fat-body remodeling in the life history of insects, we carried out a detailed study of fat-body disassociation in D. melanogaster using fluorescent microscopy, and tested whether this process is mediated by hemocytes as proposed for fat-body remodeling in Sarcophaga peregrina. We identified and correlated stereotypic events in fat-body dissociation with developmental changes during metamorphosis, and have demonstrated by cell ablation studies that fat-body remodeling in D. melanogaster is a hemocyte independent process.

Expression and regulation of Spätzle-processing enzyme in Drosophila

The Drosophila melanogaster Toll receptor controls embryonic dorsal-ventral axis formation and is crucial for the innate immune response. In both cases, Toll is activated by the enzymatically cleaved form of its ligand Spätzle (Spz). During axis formation, Spz is cleaved by the maternally provided serine protease Easter while the Spätzle-processing enzyme (SPE) activates Spz after infection. We confirm the role of SPE in immunity and show that it is a zygotic gene specifically expressed in immune tissues implying that the dual activation of Spz is achieved by differential spatiotemporal expression of two similar but distinct serine proteases.

[The artificial infection of the cladoceran Moina macrocopa (Crustacea: Phyllopoda) with the microsporidia Gurleya sp. (Microsporidia: Gurleyidae)]

Microcrustaceans Moina macrocopa (Straus, 1820) have been collected in a small vernal pond and cultured under laboratory conditions. The infection of this culture with the microsporidia Gurleya sp. was detected and high virulence of this microsporidian species allowed us to carry out the transmission experiments. Horizontal transmission, the high host specificity and maximal spore production in the hypodermal and fat body cells through 5-6 days after per oral experimental infection have been revealed. Histological investigations demonstrated that Gurleya sp. reduces drastically host reproductive success without a considerable influence on the microcrustaceans' mortality.

Loss of glial lazarillo, a homolog of apolipoprotein D, reduces lifespan and stress resistance in Drosophila

The vertebrate Apolipoprotein D (ApoD) is a lipocalin secreted from subsets of neurons and glia during neural development and aging . A strong correlation exists between ApoD overexpression and numerous nervous system pathologies as well as obesity, diabetes, and many forms of cancer . However, the exact relationship between the function of ApoD and the pathophysiology of these diseases is still unknown. We have generated loss-of-function Drosophila mutants for the Glial Lazarillo (GLaz) gene , a homolog of ApoD in the fruit fly, mainly expressed in subsets of adult glial cells. The absence of GLaz reduces the organism's resistance to oxidative stress and starvation and shortens male lifespan. The mutant flies exhibit a smaller body mass due to a lower amount of neutral lipids stored in the fat body. Apoptotic neural cell death increases in aged flies or upon paraquat treatment, which also impairs neural function as assessed by behavioral tests. The higher sensitivity to oxidative stress and starvation and the reduced fat storage revert to control levels when a GFP-GLaz fusion protein is expressed under the control of the GLaz natural promoter. Finally, GLaz mutants have a higher concentration of lipid peroxidation products, pointing to a lipid peroxidation protection or scavenging as the mechanism of action for this lipocalin. In agreement with Walker et al. (, in this issue of Current Biology), who analyze the effects of overexpressing GLaz, we conclude that GLaz has a protective role in stress situations and that its absence reduces lifespan and accelerates neurodegeneration.

TOR coordinates bulk and targeted endocytosis in the Drosophila melanogaster fat body to regulate cell growth

Target of rapamycin (TOR) is a central regulator of cellular and organismal growth in response to nutrient conditions. In a genetic screen for novel TOR interactors in Drosophila melanogaster, we have identified the clathrin-uncoating ATPase Hsc70-4, which is a key regulator of endocytosis. We present genetic evidence that TOR signaling stimulates bulk endocytic uptake and inhibits the targeted endocytic degradation of the amino acid importer Slimfast. Thus, TOR simultaneously down-regulates aspects of endocytosis that inhibit growth and up-regulates potential growth-promoting functions of endocytosis. In addition, we find that disruption of endocytosis leads to changes in TOR and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase activity, affecting cell growth, autophagy, and rapamycin sensitivity. Our data indicate that endocytosis acts both as an effector function downstream of TOR and as a physiologically relevant regulator of TOR signaling.