Phospholipid fatty acid composition linking larval-density to lifespan of adult Drosophila melanogaster.
Pre-adult density-associated alterations in the composition of storage lipids may affect the cell membrane fatty acid profile (mainly phospholipids), membrane integrity, and cell function. The present study evaluated the impact of pre-adult density conditions, sex, and the selection regime on the composition of phospholipid fatty acids and lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster. The phospholipid profile of adult flies developed under larval crowding contained a higher proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids, lower proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids, and greater risk of peroxidation. There was also a negative correlation between the peroxidation index (PI) and longevity. The longevity-selected females showed a lower PI compared with control lines under both densities. The present results indicate that pre-adult density may play a significant role in the lifespan of adult flies by altering the composition of phospholipids and shaping cell membrane bilayers with different susceptibilities to peroxidation.
Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Electronic address: neda.nasiri@bios.au.dk.
Neda Nasiri
NN
Moghadam
Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, PO Box 314, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark.
Martin
M
Holmstrup
Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Tommaso
T
Manenti
Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Volker
V
Loeschcke
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010743:Phospholipids
Cell membrane; Larval density; Longevity; Membrane pacemaker theory; Peroxidation; Phospholipids