title: Drosophila fatty acid transport protein regulates rhodopsin-1 metabolism and is required for photoreceptor neuron survival.
abstract: Tight regulation of the visual response is essential for photoreceptor function and survival. Visual response dysregulation often leads to photoreceptor cell degeneration, but the causes of such cell death are not well understood. In this study, we investigated a fatty acid transport protein (fatp) null mutation that caused adult-onset and progressive photoreceptor cell death. Consistent with fatp having a role in the retina, we showed that fatp is expressed in adult photoreceptors and accessory cells and that its re-expression in photoreceptors rescued photoreceptor viability in fatp mutants. The visual response in young fatp-mutant flies was abnormal with elevated electroretinogram amplitudes associated with high levels of Rhodopsin-1 (Rh1). Reducing Rh1 levels in rh1 mutants or depriving flies of vitamin A rescued photoreceptor cell death in fatp mutant flies. Our results indicate that fatp promotes photoreceptor survival by regulating Rh1 abundance.
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biology of the Cell, UMR5239 CNRS/Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, UMS 344 Biosciences Lyon Gerland, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France.
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Dourlen
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Bertin
authors: Gilles
authors: G
authors: Chatelain
authors: Marion
authors: M
authors: Robin
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Napoletano
authors: Michel J
authors: MJ
authors: Roux
authors: Bertrand
authors: B
authors: Mollereau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004596:Electroretinography; D050612:Fatty Acid Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D009154:Mutation; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D050612:Fatty Acid Transport Proteins; D014807:Vitamin D; D012243:Rhodopsin