Malvolio is a copper transporter in Drosophila melanogaster.
Divalent metal ion transporter 1 (DMT1; also known as SLC11A2) can transport several metals including Fe and Cu in mammalian systems. We set out to determine whether Malvolio (Mvl), the Drosophila melanogaster orthologue of DMT1, can also transport Cu. Overexpression of Mvl caused Cu accumulation in Drosophila S2 cultured cells and conversely dsRNAi knockdown of endogenous Mvl reduced cellular Cu levels. Cell viability under Cu limiting conditions was reduced following dsRNAi knockdown. A homozygous viable Mvl loss-of-function mutant (Mvl(97f)) was sensitive to excess Cu and female Mvl(97f) flies were also sensitive to Cu limitation. An MtnA-EYFP reporter was used as a proxy measure of Cu distribution within Mvl(97f/+) larvae. Under basal conditions Cu levels were reduced in the anterior midgut and proventriculus relative to control larvae. These results demonstrate Mvl is a functional Cu transporter and that despite partial functional redundancy with the Ctr1 proteins, Cu uptake through this pathway is necessary for optimal viability at the cellular and organismal levels.
Southon
Adam
A
Department of Genetics, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
Farlow
Ashley
A
Norgate
Melanie
M
Burke
Richard
R
Camakaris
James
J
D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D016623:Ion Pumps / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D034622:RNA Interference
D017931:DNA Primers; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D016623:Ion Pumps; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C094756:mvl protein, Drosophila; D003300:Copper