title: Ferritin Is Required in Multiple Tissues during Drosophila melanogaster Development.
abstract: In Drosophila melanogaster, iron is stored in the cellular endomembrane system inside a protein cage formed by 24 ferritin subunits of two types (Fer1HCH and Fer2LCH) in a 1:1 stoichiometry. In larvae, ferritin accumulates in the midgut, hemolymph, garland, pericardial cells and in the nervous system. Here we present analyses of embryonic phenotypes for mutations in Fer1HCH, Fer2LCH and in both genes simultaneously. Mutations in either gene or deletion of both genes results in a similar set of cuticular embryonic phenotypes, ranging from non-deposition of cuticle to defects associated with germ band retraction, dorsal closure and head involution. A fraction of ferritin mutants have embryonic nervous systems with ventral nerve cord disruptions, misguided axonal projections and brain malformations. Ferritin mutants die with ectopic apoptotic events. Furthermore, we show that ferritin maternal contribution, which varies reflecting the mother's iron stores, is used in early development. We also evaluated phenotypes arising from the blockage of COPII transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus, feeding the secretory pathway, plus analysis of ectopically expressed and fluorescently marked Fer1HCH and Fer2LCH. Overall, our results are consistent with insect ferritin combining three functions: iron storage, intercellular iron transport, and protection from iron-induced oxidative stress. These functions are required in multiple tissues during Drosophila embryonic development.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus UNAM Juriquilla, Querétaro, 76230, México.
authors.forename: Nicanor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: González-Morales
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus UNAM Juriquilla, Querétaro, 76230, México.
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Ortíz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus UNAM Juriquilla, Querétaro, 76230, México.
authors.forename: Liisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Blowes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus UNAM Juriquilla, Querétaro, 76230, México.
authors.forename: Fanis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Missirlis
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus UNAM Juriquilla, Querétaro, 76230, México.
authors.forename: Juan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Riesgo-Escovar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005804:Genes, Lethal / Q000235:genetics; D058685:Genetic Pleiotropy / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D021122:Protein Subunits; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron