Spermidine promotes stress resistance in Drosophila melanogaster through autophagy-dependent and -independent pathways

• DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2012.139
• Publication Date: 2012-10-11T15:32:57Z
• Authors: N Minois; D Carmona-Gutierrez; M A Bauer; P Rockenfeller; T Eisenberg; S Brandhorst; S J Sigrist; G Kroemer; F Madeo
• Keywords: Polyamine; Hormesis

The naturally occurring polyamine spermidine (Spd) has recently been shown to promote longevity across species in an autophagy-dependent manner. Here, we demonstrate that Spd improves both survival and locomotor activity of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster upon exposure superoxide generator neurotoxic agent paraquat. Although a high paraquat concentration (20 mM) was specifically increased female flies only, could be rescued male animals when exposed lower levels (5 mM). These effects are dependent on autophagic machinery, as failed confer resistance paraquat-induced toxicity impairment deleted for essential regulator ATG7 (autophagy-related gene 7). treatment did also protect against mild doses another oxidative stressor, hydrogen peroxide, but this case autophagy-independent Altogether, study establishes protective can exerted through different pathways depending stress scenario do or not involve autophagy.