Glycolytically impaired Drosophila glial cells fuel neural metabolism via β-oxidation
Abstract Neuronal function is highly energy demanding and thus requires efficient and constant metabolite delivery by glia. Drosophila glia are highly glycolytic and provide lactate to fuel neuronal metabolism. Flies are able to survive for several weeks in the absence of glial glycolysis. Here, we...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38813-x |
| _version_ | 1797817939217350656 |
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| author | Ellen McMullen Helen Hertenstein Katrin Strassburger Leon Deharde Marko Brankatschk Stefanie Schirmeier |
| author_facet | Ellen McMullen Helen Hertenstein Katrin Strassburger Leon Deharde Marko Brankatschk Stefanie Schirmeier |
| author_sort | Ellen McMullen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Neuronal function is highly energy demanding and thus requires efficient and constant metabolite delivery by glia. Drosophila glia are highly glycolytic and provide lactate to fuel neuronal metabolism. Flies are able to survive for several weeks in the absence of glial glycolysis. Here, we study how Drosophila glial cells maintain sufficient nutrient supply to neurons under conditions of impaired glycolysis. We show that glycolytically impaired glia rely on mitochondrial fatty acid breakdown and ketone body production to nourish neurons, suggesting that ketone bodies serve as an alternate neuronal fuel to prevent neurodegeneration. We show that in times of long-term starvation, glial degradation of absorbed fatty acids is essential to ensure survival of the fly. Further, we show that Drosophila glial cells act as a metabolic sensor and can induce mobilization of peripheral lipid stores to preserve brain metabolic homeostasis. Our study gives evidence of the importance of glial fatty acid degradation for brain function, and survival, under adverse conditions in Drosophila. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:00:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b8c2899245ec42aba440cd70887a0d0f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:00:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-b8c2899245ec42aba440cd70887a0d0f2023-05-28T11:21:22ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-05-011411910.1038/s41467-023-38813-xGlycolytically impaired Drosophila glial cells fuel neural metabolism via β-oxidationEllen McMullen0Helen Hertenstein1Katrin Strassburger2Leon Deharde3Marko Brankatschk4Stefanie Schirmeier5Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of South BohemiaZoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Technische Universität DresdenZoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Technische Universität DresdenZoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Technische Universität DresdenBiotechnologisches Zentrum, Technische Universität DresdenZoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Technische Universität DresdenAbstract Neuronal function is highly energy demanding and thus requires efficient and constant metabolite delivery by glia. Drosophila glia are highly glycolytic and provide lactate to fuel neuronal metabolism. Flies are able to survive for several weeks in the absence of glial glycolysis. Here, we study how Drosophila glial cells maintain sufficient nutrient supply to neurons under conditions of impaired glycolysis. We show that glycolytically impaired glia rely on mitochondrial fatty acid breakdown and ketone body production to nourish neurons, suggesting that ketone bodies serve as an alternate neuronal fuel to prevent neurodegeneration. We show that in times of long-term starvation, glial degradation of absorbed fatty acids is essential to ensure survival of the fly. Further, we show that Drosophila glial cells act as a metabolic sensor and can induce mobilization of peripheral lipid stores to preserve brain metabolic homeostasis. Our study gives evidence of the importance of glial fatty acid degradation for brain function, and survival, under adverse conditions in Drosophila.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38813-x |
| spellingShingle | Ellen McMullen Helen Hertenstein Katrin Strassburger Leon Deharde Marko Brankatschk Stefanie Schirmeier Glycolytically impaired Drosophila glial cells fuel neural metabolism via β-oxidation Nature Communications |
| title | Glycolytically impaired Drosophila glial cells fuel neural metabolism via β-oxidation |
| title_full | Glycolytically impaired Drosophila glial cells fuel neural metabolism via β-oxidation |
| title_fullStr | Glycolytically impaired Drosophila glial cells fuel neural metabolism via β-oxidation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Glycolytically impaired Drosophila glial cells fuel neural metabolism via β-oxidation |
| title_short | Glycolytically impaired Drosophila glial cells fuel neural metabolism via β-oxidation |
| title_sort | glycolytically impaired drosophila glial cells fuel neural metabolism via β oxidation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38813-x |
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