title: A somatic piRNA pathway in the Drosophila fat body ensures metabolic homeostasis and normal lifespan.
abstract: In gonadal tissues, the Piwi-interacting (piRNA) pathway preserves genomic integrity by employing 23-29 nucleotide (nt) small RNAs complexed with argonaute proteins to suppress parasitic mobile sequences of DNA called transposable elements (TEs). Although recent evidence suggests that the piRNA pathway may be present in select somatic cells outside the gonads, the role of a non-gonadal somatic piRNA pathway is not well characterized. Here we report a functional somatic piRNA pathway in the adult Drosophila fat body including the presence of the piRNA effector protein Piwi and canonical 23-29 nt long TE-mapping piRNAs. The piwi mutants exhibit depletion of fat body piRNAs, increased TE mobilization, increased levels of DNA damage and reduced lipid stores. These mutants are starvation sensitive, immunologically compromised and short-lived, all phenotypes associated with compromised fat body function. These findings demonstrate the presence of a functional non-gonadal somatic piRNA pathway in the adult fat body that affects normal metabolism and overall organismal health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Brian C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Jason G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Chengyi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Austin D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Emily R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Helfand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060565:Argonaute Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005216:Fat Body / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics*; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering