Tissue-specific modulation of gene expression in lowered insulin signalling in Drosophila
23 April 2021
Tissue-specific transcriptional and proteomic profiling of long-lived Drosophila dilp2-3,5 mutants identified tissue-specific regulation of >3600 transcripts and >3700 proteins. Most expression changes were regulated post-transcriptionally in the fat body, and only in mutants.
![partridge insulin fly publication](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/biosciences/sites/biosciences/files/styles/large_image/public/screen_shot_2021-04-23_at_13.46.24.png?itok=FWikYaWz)
Bioinformatic analysis identified reduced co-translational ER targeting of secreted and membrane-associated proteins and increased DNA damage/repair response proteins. Accordingly, age-related DNA damage and genome instability were lower in fat body of the mutant, and overexpression of a minichromosome maintenance protein subunit extended lifespan. Proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism showed altered expression in the mutant intestine, and gut-specific overexpression of a lysosomal mannosidase increased autophagy, gut homeostasis, and lifespan.
These processes are candidates for combatting ageing-related decline in other organisms.
https://elifesciences.org/articles/67275