title: Production of systemically circulating Hedgehog by the intestine couples nutrition to growth and development.
abstract: In Drosophila larvae, growth and developmental timing are regulated by nutrition in a tightly coordinated fashion. The networks that couple these processes are far from understood. Here, we show that the intestine responds to nutrient availability by regulating production of a circulating lipoprotein-associated form of the signaling protein Hedgehog (Hh). Levels of circulating Hh tune the rates of growth and developmental timing in a coordinated fashion. Circulating Hh signals to the fat body to control larval growth. It regulates developmental timing by controlling ecdysteroid production in the prothoracic gland. Circulating Hh is especially important during starvation, when it is also required for mobilization of fat body triacylglycerol (TAG) stores. Thus, we demonstrate that Hh, previously known only for its local morphogenetic functions, also acts as a lipoprotein-associated endocrine hormone, coordinating the response of multiple tissues to nutrient availability.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodenfels
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Oksana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lavrynenko
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayciriex
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Julio L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shevchenko
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany eaton@mpi-cbg.de.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eaton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D053823:Hedgehog Proteins
keywords: Drosophila; Hedgehog; growth; lipid metabolism; steroid hormones