Gender differences of amino acid metabolism in Drosophila melanogaster on alpha-ketoglutarate-supplemented food

Abstract

The influence of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) on amino acid metabolism in the fruit fly was investigated. Dietary AKG did not affect body mass, urea content, activity of glutamate dehydrogenase, alanin- and aspartataminotransferase in two-day-old flies. Ttwo-day-old females, but not males, grown on 10 mM AKG, had higher levels of total protein and free amino acids. However, AKG led to an increase in total protein in 24-day-old flies of both sexes. Maintenance on AKG-containing medium reduced overall fecundity of flies.