The Drosophila E78 nuclear receptor regulates dietary triglyceride uptake and systemic lipid levels.

Background: Lipid levels are maintained by balancing lipid uptake, synthesis, and mobilization. Although many studies have focused on the control of lipid synthesis and mobilization, less is known about the regulation of lipid digestion and uptake.

Results: Here we show that the Drosophila E78A nuclear receptor plays a central role in intestinal lipid homeostasis through regulation of the CG17192 digestive lipase.

estrogen-related receptor directs a transcriptional switch that supports adult glycolysis and lipogenesis.

Metabolism and development must be closely coupled to meet the changing physiological needs of each stage in the life cycle. The molecular mechanisms that link these pathways, however, remain poorly understood. Here we show that the estrogen-related receptor () directs a transcriptional switch in mid-pupae that promotes glucose oxidation and lipogenesis in young adults.

Transcriptional regulation of xenobiotic detoxification in Drosophila.

Living organisms, from bacteria to humans, display a coordinated transcriptional response to xenobiotic exposure, inducing enzymes and transporters that facilitate detoxification. Several transcription factors have been identified in vertebrates that contribute to this regulatory response. In contrast, little is known about this pathway in insects.

The Drosophila DHR96 nuclear receptor binds cholesterol and regulates cholesterol homeostasis.

Cholesterol homeostasis is required to maintain normal cellular function and avoid the deleterious effects of hypercholesterolemia. Here we show that the Drosophila DHR96 nuclear receptor binds cholesterol and is required for the coordinate transcriptional response of genes that are regulated by cholesterol and involved in cholesterol uptake, trafficking, and storage. DHR96 mutants die when grown on low levels of cholesterol and accumulate excess cholesterol when maintained on a high-cholesterol diet.

The DHR96 nuclear receptor regulates xenobiotic responses in Drosophila.

Exposure to xenobiotics such as plant toxins, pollutants, or prescription drugs triggers a defense response, inducing genes that encode key detoxification enzymes. Although xenobiotic responses have been studied in vertebrates, little effort has been made to exploit a simple genetic system for characterizing the molecular basis of this coordinated transcriptional response. We show here that approximately 1000 transcripts are significantly affected by phenobarbital treatment in Drosophila.