Systemic corazonin signalling modulates stress responses and metabolism in Drosophila.
Stress triggers cellular and systemic reactions in organisms to restore homeostasis. For instance, metabolic stress, experienced during starvation, elicits a hormonal response that reallocates resources to enable food search and readjustment of physiology. Mammalian gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and its insect orthologue, adipokinetic hormone (AKH), are known for their roles in modulating stress-related behaviour. Here we show that corazonin (Crz), a peptide homologous to AKH/GnRH, also alters stress physiology in Drosophila The Crz receptor (CrzR) is expressed in salivary glands and adipocytes of the liver-like fat body, and CrzR knockdown targeted simultaneously to both these tissues increases the fly's resistance to starvation, desiccation and oxidative stress, reduces feeding, alters expression of transcripts of Drosophila insulin-like peptides (DILPs), and affects gene expression in the fat body. Furthermore, in starved flies, CrzR-knockdown increases circulating and stored carbohydrates. Thus, our findings indicate that elevated systemic Crz signalling during stress coordinates increased food intake and diminished energy stores to regain metabolic homeostasis. Our study suggests that an ancient stress-peptide in Urbilateria evolved to give rise to present-day GnRH, AKH and Crz signalling systems.
Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
Olga I
OI
Kubrak
Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
Oleh V
OV
Lushchak
Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
Meet
M
Zandawala
Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden dnassel@zoologi.su.se.
Dick R
0000-0002-1147-7766
DR
Nässel
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D004435:Eating; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006706:Homeostasis; D008297:Male; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013312:Stress, Physiological
C489221:Crz protein, Drosophila; C000624569:CrzR protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; D018000:Receptors, Peptide; C468120:corazonin receptor
corazonin receptor; fat body; insulin-like peptides; neuropeptide; stress signalling