Effects of Fructose and Palmitic Acid on Gene Expression in Drosophila melanogaster Larvae: Implications for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Abstract

One of the largest health problems worldwide is the development of chronic noncommunicable diseases due to the consumption of hypercaloric diets. Among the most common alterations are cardiovascular diseases, and a high correlation between overnutrition and neurodegenerative diseases has also been found. The urgency in the study of specific damage to tissues such as the brain and intestine led us to use Drosophila melanogaster to study the metabolic effects caused by the consumption of fructose and palmitic acid in specific tissues. Thus, third instar larvae (96 ± 4 h) of the wild Canton-S strain of D. melanogaster were used to perform transcriptomic profiling in brain and midgut tissues to test for the potential metabolic effects of a diet supplemented with fructose and palmitic acid. Our data infer that this diet can alter the biosynthesis of proteins at the mRNA level that participate in the synthesis of amino acids, as well as fundamental enzymes for the dopaminergic and GABAergic systems in the midgut and brain. These also demonstrated alterations in the tissues of flies that may help explain the development of various reported human diseases associated with the consumption of fructose and palmitic acid in humans. These studies will not only help to better understand the mechanisms by which the consumption of these alimentary products is related to the development of neuronal diseases but may also contribute to the prevention of these conditions.

Role of Drosophila in Human Disease Research 3.0

“…Two research articles published in this volume focused on the utilization of Drosophila when studying neurodegenerative diseases. In the first article, Santos-Cruz et al used Drosophila to study the metabolic effects caused by the consumption of fructose and palmitic acid [ 2 ]. It is known that highly energetic ultra-processed foods contain fructose and palmitic acid, which appear to play a role in the progression of various diseases and disorders, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.…”

“…It is known that highly energetic ultra-processed foods contain fructose and palmitic acid, which appear to play a role in the progression of various diseases and disorders, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Transcriptomic profiling in the brain and midgut of Drosophila larvae fed a diet supplemented with fructose and palmitic acid revealed that the biosynthesis of proteins at the mRNA level that participate in the synthesis of amino acids and enzymes for the dopaminergic and GABAergic systems are altered in these organs [ 2 ]. Their findings may provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which the consumption of these alimentary products is related to the development of neuronal diseases.…”