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Updated: Dec 15, 2025

Dissection and Lipid Droplet Staining of Oenocytes in Drosophila Larvae
Published on: December 28, 2019
The presence of odd-chain fatty acids in Drosophila phospholipids
Ayaka Sato1, Yuya Ohhara1,2,3, Shinji Miura1,2
1Graduate School of Integrated Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka , Shizuoka, Japan.
Abstract:
Most fatty acids in phospholipids and other lipid species carry an even number of carbon atoms. Also odd-chain fatty acids (OCFAs), such as C15:0 and C17:0, are widespread throughout the living organism. However, the qualitative and quantitative profiles of OCFAs-containing lipids in living organisms remain unclear. Here, we show that OCFAs are present in Drosophila phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and that their level increases in accordance with progression of growth. Furthermore, we found that food-derived propionic acid/propanoic acid (C3:0) is utilized for production of OCFA-containing PC and PE. This study provides the basis for understanding in vivo function of OCFA-containing phospholipids in development and lipid homeostasis.
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