Cellular sites of Drosophila NinaB and NinaD activity in vitamin A metabolism

The Drosophila genes ninaB and ninaD, encoding a beta-carotene oxygenase and a type B scavenger receptor respectively, are essential for the biosynthesis of the 3-hydroxyretinal chromophore of rhodopsin. We analyzed transgenic reporter strains and performed in situ hybridization to show that both ninaB and ninaD are expressed in the adult brain but not retinal tissues. Developmental RT-PCR and tissue expression studies showed that ninaB is only expressed in the adult brain, while ninaD is expressed in the adult brain, the adult body, and many larval tissues. The data support a model in which NinaD is required for uptake and storage of dietary carotenoids throughout the larval and adult stages of development. Beta-carotene is transported to the adult brain, where cellular uptake by NinaD allows cleavage by the NinaB enzyme to produce retinal. Retinal is then transported to the retina for rhodopsin biogenesis.