title: Ferritin overexpression in Drosophila glia leads to iron deposition in the optic lobes and late-onset behavioral defects.
abstract: Cellular and organismal iron storage depends on the function of the ferritin protein complex in insects and mammals alike. In the central nervous system of insects, the distribution and relevance of ferritin remain unclear, though ferritin has been implicated in Drosophila models of Alzheimers' and Parkinsons' disease and in Aluminum-induced neurodegeneration. Here we show that transgene-derived expression of ferritin subunits in glial cells of Drosophila melanogaster causes a late-onset behavioral decline, characterized by loss of circadian rhythms in constant darkness and impairment of elicited locomotor responses. Anatomical analysis of the affected brains revealed crystalline inclusions of iron-loaded ferritin in a subpopulation of glial cells but not significant neurodegeneration. Although transgene-induced glial ferritin expression was well tolerated throughout development and in young flies, it turned disadvantageous at older age. The flies we characterize in this report contribute to the study of ferritin in the Drosophila brain and can be used to assess the contribution of glial iron metabolism in neurodegenerative models of disease.
authors: Institute of Cellular and Developmental Biology, BSRC Alexander Fleming, Vari 16672, Greece.
authors: Stylianos
authors: S
authors: Kosmidis
authors: Jose A
authors: JA
authors: Botella
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Mandilaras
authors: Stephan
authors: S
authors: Schneuwly
authors: Efthimios M C
authors: EM
authors: Skoulakis
authors: Tracey A
authors: TA
authors: Rouault
authors: Fanis
authors: F
authors: Missirlis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005293:Ferritins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D019189:Iron Metabolism Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009899:Optic Lobe, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron