Fatty acid composition of Drosophila photoreceptor light-sensitive microvilli
Biol. Res
;
46(3): 289-294, 2013. ilus, graf, tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-692196
ABSTRACT
Phototransduction, the mechanism underlying the electrical response to light in photoreceptor cells, has been thoroughly investigated in Drosophila melanogaster, an essential model in signal transduction research. These cells present a highly specialized photosensitive membrane consisting of thousands of microvilli forming a prominent structure termed a rhabdomere. These microvilli encompass the phototransduction proteins, most of which are transmembrane and exclusively rhabdomeric. Rhabdomere membrane lipids play a crucial role in the activation of the transient receptor potential ionic channels (TRP and TRPL) responsible for initiating the photoresponse. Despite its importance, rhabdomere lipid composition has not been established. We developed a novel preparation enriched in rhabdomere membranes to perform a thorough characterization of the lipidomics of Drosophila rhabdomeres. Isolated eyes (500) were homogenized and subjected to a differential centrifugation protocol that generates a fraction enriched in rhabdomere membrane. Lipids extracted from this preparation were identified and quantified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. We found an abundance of low sterol esters (C160, C180), highly abundant and diverse triglycerides, free fatty acids, a moderate variety of mono and diacyglycerols (C160, 180, C181) and abundant phospholipids (principally C182). This preparation opens a new avenue for investigating essential aspects of phototransduction.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate
/
Drosophila Proteins
/
Drosophila melanogaster
/
Transient Receptor Potential Channels
/
Fatty Acids
/
Microvilli
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
Limits:
Animals
Language:
English
Journal:
Biol. Res
Journal subject:
Biology
Year:
2013
Type:
Article
/
Project document
Affiliation country:
Chile
Institution/Affiliation country:
University of Chile/CL
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