Abstract
The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has become a valuable model organism in nutritional science, which can be applied to elucidate the physiology and the biological function of nutrients, including trace elements. Importantly, the application of chemically defined diets enables the supply of trace elements for nutritional studies under highly standardized dietary conditions. Thus, the bioavailability and bioactivity of trace elements can be systematically monitored in D. melanogaster. Numerous studies have already revealed that central aspects of trace element homeostasis are evolutionary conserved among the fruit fly and mammalian species. While there is sufficient evidence of vital functions of boron (B) in plants, there is also evidence regarding its bioactivity in animals and humans. Lithium (Li) is well known for its role in the therapy of bipolar disorder. Furthermore, recent findings suggest beneficial effects of Li regarding neuroprotection as well as healthy ageing and longevity in D. melanogaster. However, no specific essential function in the animal kingdom has been found for either of the two elements so far. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of Li and B bioactivity in D. melanogaster in the context of health and disease prevention.
Highlights
Interfering with such sensitive processes by applying high concentrations of Li may be the cause for a delay of development in it is one of the proposed molecular targets of Li in D. melanogaster, inhibition of inositol polyphosphate 1-phosphatase (IPP)/inositol monophosphatase (IMP) may not be the cause of teratogenic effects in the fruit fly
While there are no data available on effects of complete withdrawal on neither B nor Li in the fly to date, no definite claims can be made in regards of their essentiality
Studies with fruit fly diets enriched in Li and B revealed that the status of both elements can be elevated in the fruit fly by concentrations that are in the range of natural dietary intake levels
Summary
Bulk elements, and macrominerals, trace elements (TE) belong to the group of micronutrients. Only little is known about the homeostatic mechanisms of other TE in the fruit fly Such mechanisms may include metallothionines and other TE-binding proteins that initiate accumulation or transport as well as proteins involved in cellular import and export that will be expressed in the respective organs and tissues. Thepanel upper panelthe depicts the anatomy offly therestricted fruit fly restricted to key organs in the tive homeostatic regulationregulation of trace elements on Lemaitre al. Urinary B excretion was negatively correlated with homocysteine and inflammatory parameters in kidney transplant patients [43] Whether any of these observations rely on one or more specific vital functions of B in humans, or if those effects are of non-essential nature has yet to be determined.
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