Molecular mechanism and functional significance of acid generation in the Drosophila midgut

• DOI: 10.1038/srep27242
• Publication Date: 2016-06-02T09:22:09Z
• Authors: Gayle Overend; Yuan Luo; Louise Henderson; Angela E. Douglas; Shireen A. Davies; Julian A. T. Dow
• Keywords: Acid-Base Equilibrium; 0301 basic medicine; Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases; Sodium; Biological Transport, Active; Article; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gastrointestinal Tract; 03 medical and health sciences; Drosophila melanogaster; Potassium; Animals; Drosophila Proteins; Carbonic Anhydrases

Abstract The gut of Drosophila melanogaster includes a proximal acidic region (~pH 2), however the genome lacks H + /K ATPase characteristic mammalian gastric parietal cell and molecular mechanisms acid generation are poorly understood. Here, we show that maintenance low pH is dependent on V-ATPase, together with carbonic anhydrase five further transporters or channels mediate K , Cl − HCO 3 transport. Abrogation did not influence larval survival under standard laboratory conditions, but was deleterious for insects subjected to high Na load. Insects elevated in displayed increased susceptibility Pseudomonas pathogens abundance key members microbiota ( Acetobacter Lactobacillus ), suggesting has bacteriostatic bacteriocidal activity. Conversely, significantly reduced germ-free indicative role bacteria shaping conditions gut. These results demonstrate protects insect microbiome from pathological disruption shed light by which can be maintained absence ATPase.