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Fatty acid transport proteins in disease: New insights from invertebrate models

Pierre Dourlen1, Alyson Sujkowski2, Robert Wessells2

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular Biology of the Cell, UMR5239 CNRS/Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, UMS3444 Biosciences Lyon Gerland, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France.

Progress in Lipid Research
|September 30, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Invertebrate models using fatty acid transport proteins (FATPs) offer new insights into metabolic diseases like cardiomyopathy and retinal degeneration. These models advance understanding of lipid disorders in humans.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Lipid metabolism dysregulation is linked to diabetes, heart disease, and neurodegenerative disorders.
  • Mouse models offer insights, but complexity hinders progress in understanding metabolic diseases.
  • Simple genetic models like Drosophila and C. elegans are valuable for studying complex metabolic pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the utility of invertebrate models for studying lipid metabolism.
  • To investigate the role of fatty acid transport proteins (FATPs) in disease pathogenesis.
  • To bridge the understanding of invertebrate FATP mechanisms with vertebrate lipid disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Characterization of fatty acid transport protein (fatp) mutants in Drosophila and C. elegans.
  • Establishment of disease models including cardiomyopathy, retinal degeneration, and dermopathies.
  • Comparative analysis of invertebrate FATP functions with vertebrate FATPs and lipid disorders.

Main Results:

  • Invertebrate fatp mutants successfully model human metabolic diseases.
  • Novel insights into the physiological roles of the Fatp protein family in vivo were generated.
  • These models provide a simplified system to study complex lipid metabolism.

Conclusions:

  • Invertebrate FATP models are powerful tools for dissecting lipid metabolism and its role in disease.
  • These models facilitate a deeper understanding of the etiology of various metabolic disorders.
  • Findings from invertebrate models are relevant to vertebrate lipid disorders and human health.

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