Role of Dmp53 in autophagy induction and metabolic homeostasis in Drosophila

INGARAMO, MARÍA C.; DEKANTY, ANDRES

CABA

Congreso; 10th International Meeting of the Latin American Society of Developmental Biology; 2019

LASDB

The ability of an organism to adapt to nutritional stress is crucial for its survival. In this context, we have previously showed that conserved transcription factor Dmp53 plays a central role in metabolic remodeling in Drosophila. Impairing Dmp53 activity in the adipose tissue accelerates the consumption of main energy stores and compromises organismal survival upon fasting. In this study, by using in vivo and ex vivo experiments, we demonstrate Dmp53 function in the adipose tissue is required to modulate insulin-like peptide-2 (Dilp2) secretion in the larval brain. Dmp53 depletion in the fat body resulted in elevated Dilp2 circulating levels, increased insulin signaling and active anabolic metabolism under nutrient deprivation. In addition, reducing Dmp53 activity in the fat body strongly delayed starvation-induced autophagy in several tissues, including fat body, salivary glands and brain seemingly due to sustained systemic insulin signaling under starvation. Altogether, these results suggest that Dmp53 activation in the adipose tissue is required to remotely control insulin secretion therefore providing mechanisms for nutrient sensing and rapid adaptation to starvation conditions.