Drosophila Gr64e mediates fatty acid sensing via the phospholipase C pathway

Hyeyon Kim; Haein Kim; Jae Young Kwon; Jeong Taeg Seo; Dong Min Shin; Seok Jun Moon

doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1007229

Drosophila Gr64e mediates fatty acid sensing via the phospholipase C pathway

PLoS Genet. 2018 Feb 8;14(2):e1007229. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007229. eCollection 2018 Feb.

Authors

Hyeyon Kim¹, Haein Kim², Jae Young Kwon², Jeong Taeg Seo¹, Dong Min Shin¹, Seok Jun Moon¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oral Biology, BK21 PLUS, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea.
² Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.

Abstract

Animals use taste to sample and ingest essential nutrients for survival. Free fatty acids (FAs) are energy-rich nutrients that contribute to various cellular functions. Recent evidence suggests FAs are detected through the gustatory system to promote feeding. In Drosophila, phospholipase C (PLC) signaling in sweet-sensing cells is required for FA detection but other signaling molecules are unknown. Here, we show Gr64e is required for the behavioral and electrophysiological responses to FAs. GR64e and TRPA1 are interchangeable when they act downstream of PLC: TRPA1 can substitute for GR64e in FA but not glycerol sensing, and GR64e can substitute for TRPA1 in aristolochic acid but not N-methylmaleimide sensing. In contrast to its role in FA sensing, GR64e functions as a ligand-gated ion channel for glycerol detection. Our results identify a novel FA transduction molecule and reveal that Drosophila Grs can act via distinct molecular mechanisms depending on context.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Animals, Genetically Modified
Aristolochic Acids / metabolism
Drosophila Proteins / genetics
Drosophila Proteins / physiology*
Drosophila melanogaster* / genetics
Drosophila melanogaster* / metabolism
Fatty Acids / metabolism*
Glycerol / metabolism
Lipid Metabolism / genetics
Maleimides / metabolism
Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology*
Signal Transduction / genetics
Taste / genetics*
Type C Phospholipases / metabolism*

Substances

Aristolochic Acids
Drosophila Proteins
Fatty Acids
Gr64e protein, Drosophila
Maleimides
Receptors, Cell Surface
gustatory receptor, Drosophila
aristolochic acid C
Type C Phospholipases
N-methylmaleimide
Glycerol

Grants and funding

This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Grant funded by the Korean Government (MSIP) (NRF-2016R1A5A2008630 and NRF- 2014R1A2A1A11050045). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.