Mammalian puberty: a fly perspective.

Mammalian puberty and Drosophila metamorphosis, despite their evolutionary distance, exhibit similar design principles and conservation of molecular components. In this Viewpoint, we review recent advances in this area and the similarities between both processes in terms of the signaling pathways and neuroendocrine circuits involved. We argue that the detection and uptake of peripheral fat by Drosophila prothoracic endocrine cells induces endomembrane remodeling and ribosomal maturation, leading to the acquisition of high biosynthetic and secretory capacity.

A toolbox to study metabolic status of larvae.

Somatic energy reserves are essential for reproductive success and can govern the onset of sexual maturation. Here, we present a toolkit to analyze the metabolic status of larvae using an optimized NMR profiling assay in dissected tissues or whole animals, as well as a complementary protocol for the dissection and staining of key organs in nutrient sensing. This toolkit will aid investigations into critical body weight signaling and how it is sensed for maturation commitment in .

Body-fat sensor triggers ribosome maturation in the steroidogenic gland to initiate sexual maturation in Drosophila.

Fat stores are critical for reproductive success and may govern maturation initiation. Here, we report that signaling and sensing fat sufficiency for sexual maturation commitment requires the lipid carrier apolipophorin in fat cells and Sema1a in the neuroendocrine prothoracic gland (PG). Larvae lacking apolpp or Sema1a fail to initiate maturation despite accruing sufficient fat stores, and they continue gaining weight until death.