Screening of microRNAs controlling body fat in Drosophila melanogaster and identification of miR-969 and its target, Gr47b

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219707
• Publication Date: 2019-07-18T17:40:17Z
• Authors: William Redmond; Dylan Allen; M. Christian Elledge; Russell Arellanes; Lucille Redmond; Jared Yeahquo; Shuyin Zhang; Morgan Youngblood; Austin Reiner; Jin Seo
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Heterozygote; Science; Q; R; Receptors, Cell Surface; MicroRNAs; 03 medical and health sciences; Drosophila melanogaster; Adipose Tissue; Gene Expression Regulation; Organ Specificity; Medicine; Animals; Drosophila Proteins; Genetic Testing; Research Article; Adiposity

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-protein coding RNAs and post-transcriptionally regulate cellular gene expression. In animal development, miRNAs play essential roles such as stem cell maintenance, organogenesis, apoptosis. Using gain-of-function (GOF) screening with 160 miRNA lines in Drosophila melanogaster, we identified a set of which regulates body fat contents named them microCATs (microRNAs Controlling Adipose Tissue). Further examination egg-to-adult developmental kinetics selected showed negative correlation between content time. Comparison loss-of-function data uncovered miR-969 an regulator adiposity. Subsequently, demonstrated adipose tissue-specific knock-down gustatory receptor 47b (Gr47b), target, greatly reduced the amount fat, recapitulating GOF phenotype.