Regulation of longevity by depolarization-induced activation of PLC-ß-IP3R signaling in neurons.

Mitochondrial ATP production is a well-known regulator of neuronal excitability. The reciprocal influence of plasma-membrane potential on ATP production, however, remains poorly understood. Here, we describe a mechanism by which depolarized neurons elevate the somatic ATP/ADP ratio in Drosophila glutamatergic neurons. We show that depolarization increased phospholipase-Cß (PLC-ß) activity by promoting the association of the enzyme with its phosphoinositide substrate. Augmented PLC-ß activity led to greater release of endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ via the inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3R), increased mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, and promoted ATP synthesis. Perturbations that decoupled membrane potential from this mode of ATP synthesis led to untrammeled PLC-ß-IP3R activation and a dramatic shortening of Drosophila lifespan. Upon investigating the underlying mechanisms, we found that increased sequestration of Ca2+ into endolysosomes was an intermediary in the regulation of lifespan by IP3Rs. Manipulations that either lowered PLC-ß/IP3R abundance or attenuated endolysosomal Ca2+ overload restored animal longevity. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that depolarization-dependent regulation of PLC-ß-IP3R signaling is required for modulation of the ATP/ADP ratio in healthy glutamatergic neurons, whereas hyperactivation of this axis in chronically depolarized glutamatergic neurons shortens animal lifespan by promoting endolysosomal Ca2+ overload.

Cubilin and amnionless mediate protein reabsorption in Drosophila nephrocytes.

The insect nephrocyte and the mammalian glomerular podocyte are similar with regard to filtration, but it remains unclear whether there is an organ or cell type in flies that reabsorbs proteins. Here, we show that the Drosophila nephrocyte has molecular, structural, and functional similarities to the renal proximal tubule cell. We screened for genes required for nephrocyte function and identified two Drosophila genes encoding orthologs of mammalian cubilin and amnionless (AMN), two major receptors for protein reabsorption in the proximal tubule. In Drosophila, expression of dCubilin and dAMN is specific to nephrocytes, where they function as co-receptors for protein uptake. Targeted expression of human AMN in Drosophila nephrocytes was sufficient to rescue defective protein uptake induced by dAMN knockdown, suggesting evolutionary conservation of Cubilin/AMN co-receptors function from flies to humans. Furthermore, we found that Cubilin/AMN-mediated protein reabsorption is required for the maintenance of nephrocyte ultrastructure and fly survival under conditions of toxic stress. In conclusion, the insect nephrocyte combines filtration with protein reabsorption, using evolutionarily conserved genes and subcellular structures, suggesting that it can serve as a simplified model for both podocytes and the renal proximal tubule.

Realized immune response is enhanced in long-lived puc and chico mutants but is unaffected by dietary restriction.

The immune system is vital for the immediate survival of multicellular organisms by protecting them from the damaging effects of bacterial infections, viruses, and toxic molecules. It has been hypothesized that the immune system plays a pivotal role in determining longevity. We investigated the efficiency of the innate immune system in Drosophila carrying the longevity extending mutations puc (JNK signaling pathway, stress response) and chico (insulin signaling pathway), as well as animals subjected to dietary restriction (DR), which also extends lifespan. We found that puc heterozygous animals, as well as chico homozygous and heterozygous flies, have enhanced pathogen resistance. Surprisingly, diet manipulation did not reproducibly alter pathogen resistance, despite its significant effect on the expression of many immunity-related genes. Considering that chronic or frequent activation of the immune system results in reduced longevity, we postulate that the longevity extending potential of the above mutations may be partially obscured by parallel activation of the immune system. Such upregulation is not observed during DR, suggesting the presence of a mechanism that suppresses immune activity in diet-restricted animals.

Trade-offs between longevity and pathogen resistance in Drosophila melanogaster are mediated by NFkappaB signaling.

The innate immune response protects numerous organisms, including humans, from the universe of pathogenic molecules, viruses and micro-organisms. Despite its role in promoting pathogen resistance, inappropriate activation and expression of NFkappaB and other immunity-related effector molecules can lead to cancer, inflammation, and other diseases of aging. Understanding the mechanisms leading to immune system activation as well as the short- and long-term consequences of such activation on health and lifespan is therefore critical for the development of beneficial immuno-modulating and longevity-promoting interventions. Mechanisms of innate immunity are highly conserved across species, and we take advantage of genetic tools in the model organism, Drosophila melanogaster, to study the effects of acute and chronic activation of immunity pathways on pathogen resistance and general fitness of adult flies. Our findings indicate that fat body specific overexpression of a putative pathogen recognition molecule, peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGRP-LE), is sufficient for constitutive up-regulation of the immune response and for enhanced pathogen resistance. Primary components of fitness are unaffected by acute activation, but chronic activation leads to an inflammatory state and reduced lifespan. These phenotypes are dependent on the NFkappaB-related transcriptional factor, Relish, and they establish a mechanistic basis for a link between immunity, inflammation, and longevity.

Lysosomal Degradation Is Required for Sustained Phagocytosis of Bacteria by Macrophages.

Clearance of bacteria by macrophages involves internalization of the microorganisms into phagosomes, which are then delivered to endolysosomes for enzymatic degradation. These spatiotemporally segregated processes are not known to be functionally coupled. Here, we show that lysosomal degradation of bacteria sustains phagocytic uptake. In Drosophila and mammalian macrophages, lysosomal dysfunction due to loss of the endolysosomal Cl- transporter ClC-b/CLCN7 delayed degradation of internalized bacteria. Unexpectedly, defective lysosomal degradation of bacteria also attenuated further phagocytosis, resulting in elevated bacterial load. Exogenous application of bacterial peptidoglycans restored phagocytic uptake in the lysosomal degradation-defective mutants via a pathway requiring cytosolic pattern recognition receptors and NF-κB. Mammalian macrophages that are unable to degrade internalized bacteria also exhibit compromised NF-κB activation. Our findings reveal a role for phagolysosomal degradation in activating an evolutionarily conserved signaling cascade, which ensures that continuous uptake of bacteria is preceded by lysosomal degradation of microbes.

Diminished MTORC1-Dependent JNK Activation Underlies the Neurodevelopmental Defects Associated with Lysosomal Dysfunction.

Here, we evaluate the mechanisms underlying the neurodevelopmental deficits in Drosophila and mouse models of lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs). We find that lysosomes promote the growth of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) via Rag GTPases and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (MTORC1). However, rather than employing S6K/4E-BP1, MTORC1 stimulates NMJ growth via JNK, a determinant of axonal growth in Drosophila and mammals. This role of lysosomal function in regulating JNK phosphorylation is conserved in mammals. Despite requiring the amino-acid-responsive kinase MTORC1, NMJ development is insensitive to dietary protein. We attribute this paradox to anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), which restricts neuronal amino acid uptake, and the administration of an ALK inhibitor couples NMJ development to dietary protein. Our findings provide an explanation for the neurodevelopmental deficits in LSDs and suggest an actionable target for treatment.

A TRPV channel in Drosophila motor neurons regulates presynaptic resting Ca2+ levels, synapse growth, and synaptic transmission.

Presynaptic resting Ca(2+) influences synaptic vesicle (SV) release probability. Here, we report that a TRPV channel, Inactive (Iav), maintains presynaptic resting [Ca(2+)] by promoting Ca(2+) release from the endoplasmic reticulum in Drosophila motor neurons, and is required for both synapse development and neurotransmission. We find that Iav activates the Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin, which is essential for presynaptic microtubule stabilization at the neuromuscular junction. Thus, loss of Iav induces destabilization of presynaptic microtubules, resulting in diminished synaptic growth. Interestingly, expression of human TRPV1 in Iav-deficient motor neurons rescues these defects. We also show that the absence of Iav causes lower SV release probability and diminished synaptic transmission, whereas Iav overexpression elevates these synaptic parameters. Together, our findings indicate that Iav acts as a key regulator of synaptic development and function by influencing presynaptic resting [Ca(2+)].