Long-chain dietary fatty acids affect the capacity of Drosophila melanogaster to tolerate ethanol.
Four-day post-hatch larvae (mid-third instar) of Drosophila melanogaster were fed an intermediate diet with or without supplement of an individual fatty acid for 2 d and then transferred to a diet with a growth-limiting level of 0.94 mol/L ethanol (5.5%, v/v) or an ethanol-free diet. The ethanol stress decreased survival and larval development rate but increased the weight of surviving adult males. Dietary long-chain fatty acids altered the fatty acid composition of tissue lipids of larvae. When an unsaturated fatty acid was fed, except for 18:2(n-6), the tissue level of total unsaturated fatty acids was markedly increased. Both saturated and unsaturated 18-carbon fatty acids shortened larval development time. Linoleic acid [18:2(n-6)] and linolenic acid [18:3(n-3)] enhanced survival overall and, together with stearic acid (18:0), gave marked protection from ethanol stress in terms of survival. Correlation analysis across the different fatty acid diets indicated a strong positive association between tissue 18-carbon fatty acid levels and ethanol tolerance and between 18-carbon fatty acid levels and development rate. No major differences were observed in the effects of the fatty acids on the Canton-S and OD4 (Tahbilk) wild-type strains. Thus, the fatty acid content of D. melanogaster larvae is important for growth and survival in ethanol-rich habitats.
McKechnie
S W
SW
Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Geer
B W
BW
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D000431:Ethanol