Drosophila melanogaster as a molecular modulation model for in vivo study of autophagy and its relationship with mitochondrial metabolism

• Grant number: 21/11527-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2021
• End date: March 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Luciane Carla Alberici
• Grantee: Felipe Berti Valer
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/10089-2 - Neural, hormonal and nutritional control of autophagy, AP.TEM

Abstract

Drosophila melanogaster has been one of the most used model for the in vivo study of autophagic process, since they present salivary glands as a model organ for autophagy. These flies allow the use of tools for controlled gene modulation (knockout, knockdown, overexpression) of cellular components involved in the autophagic process in several organs, and can also carry fluorescent markers for key autophagy proteins (eg mCherry-LC3 in musculature) together with mitochondrial markers (mito-GFP) among others. The applicability of this model is that the proteins responsible for the formation and maintenance of the autophagosome are conserved. Using the UAS-Gal4 system, it is possible to direct and control the expression of autophagic components or genes of interest in specific tissues of Drosophila melanogaster. Drosophilas can also be submitted to different metabolic conditions such as diet and exercise. Finally, although the main proteins involved in autophagy in Drosophila melanogaster are well described, the use of this model also enables the rapid screnning of new targets or pathways that may interfere with the autophagic mechanism. Thus, as the main goal of the thematic project is to investigate the mechanisms by which different metabolic situations, via the SNS, control the autophagy process, the objective of this linked sub-project is to provide molecular modulation tools for the study of in vivo autophagy, providing additional results to the other sub-projects, and additionally analyzing the mitochondrial metabolism in these processes. (AU)