Journal article
Polyunsaturated fatty acid derived signaling in reproduction and development: insights from Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster
Molecular reproduction and development, Vol.80(4), pp.244-259
04/2013
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101471
PMCID: PMC4350910
PMID: 23440886
Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) exhibit a diverse range of critical functions in biological systems. PUFAs modulate the biophysical properties of membranes and, along with their derivatives, the eicosanoids and endocannabinoids, form a wide array potent lipid signaling molecules. Much of our early understanding of PUFAs and PUFA-derived signaling stems from work in mammals; however, technological advances have made comprehensive lipid analysis possible in small genetic models such as Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. These models have a number of advantages, such as simple anatomy and genome-wide genetic screening techniques, which can broaden our understanding of fatty-acid-derived signaling in biological systems. Here we review what is known about PUFAs, eicosanoids, and endocannabinoids in the development and reproduction of C. elegans and D. melanogaster. Fatty acid signaling appears to be fundamental for multicellular organisms, and simple invertebrates often employ functionally similar pathways. In particular, studies in C. elegans and Drosophila are providing insight into the roles of PUFAs and PUFA-derived signaling in early developmental processes, such as meiosis, fertilization, and early embryonic cleavage.
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Details
- Title
- Polyunsaturated fatty acid derived signaling in reproduction and development: insights from Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster
- Creators
- Tracy L Vrablik - School of Molecular Biosciences and Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-7520, USAJennifer L Watts
- Publication Details
- Molecular reproduction and development, Vol.80(4), pp.244-259
- Academic Unit
- Molecular Biosciences, School of
- Publisher
- United States
- Grant note
- R01-DK074114 / NIDDK NIH HHS R01 DK074114 / NIDDK NIH HHS
- Identifiers
- 99900546684001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article