Staff Members of the Institute of Biochemistry, TU - Institut für ...

fly, i.e., observable as a decrease in the size and/or number of “holes” in the brain of
Drosophila. Several different mutant lines were constructed expressing the yeast NTE1 to
different extent and in different tissues. Subsequently, the brains of these mutants were
analyzed by fluorescent microscopy for the presence of “holes”. Any result from full
reversion of the phenotype to no effect has been considered, however, the phenotype was even
worse in the transfectants, showing a higher number of “holes”. In addition, the life span of
the sws-mutants expressing NTE1 of yeast was significantly reduced compared to control
flies. These results indicate that there is no functional conservation among the NTE protein
family in vivo. However, investigations what caused this rather striking effect provided some
evidence that Nte1p interacts with enzymes of the lipid metabolism and forms a protein
complex with at least one more polypeptide. Results of experiments performed with
Drosophila indicated that this is also true for Sws of the fruit fly. Furthermore, mutations in
certain lipid synthesizing pathways led to smaller and fewer holes in the brain of a sws-mutant
fly, indicating that the phenotype of the sws mutant is caused by major changes in the lipid
pattern. Analysis of the lipid pattern of the respective mutant flies is currently under
investigation and will reveal which lipid parameters are required for normal development of
the nervous system. This will provide valuable information for potential targets to compensate
effects caused by neurons in metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes), toxic states and advanced
age.
International Cooperations
T. Chardot and J.-M. Nicaud, Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR Chimie
Biologique, Thiverval Grignon, France
D. Kretzschmar, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA
Publications
1. Athenstaedt, K.
Neutral lipids in yeast: synthesis, storage and degradation.
In Microbiology of Hydrocarbons, Oils, Lipids, and Derived Compounds. (Ed. by K. N.
Timmis) Springer-Heidelberg, 2010, 471-480
2. Athenstaedt, K.
Players in the neutral lipid game – proteins involved in neutral lipid metabolism in
yeast.
In Microbiology of Hydrocarbons, Oils, Lipids, and Derived Compounds. (Ed. by K. N.
Timmis) Springer-Heidelberg, 2010, 537-546
3. Athenstaedt, K.
Isolation and characterization of lipid particles of yeast.
In Microbiology of Hydrocarbons, Oils, Lipids, and Derived Compounds. (Ed. by K. N.
Timmis) Springer-Heidelberg, 2010, 4223-4229
4. Athenstaedt, K.
Neutral lipid metabolism in yeast as a template for biomedical research.
In Microbiology of Hydrocarbons, Oils, Lipids, and Derived Compounds. (Ed. by K. N.
Timmis) Springer-Heidelberg, 2010, 3381-3382
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