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Updated: Oct 15, 2025

A Colorimetric Assay of Citrate Synthase Activity in Drosophila Melanogaster
Published on: January 16, 2020
Dietary citrate supplementation enhances longevity, metabolic health, and memory performance through promoting
Shou-Zen Fan1, Cheng-Sheng Lin2, Yu-Wen Wei2
1Department of Anesthesiology, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Citrate is an essential substrate for energy metabolism that plays critical roles in regulating cell growth and survival. However, the action of citrate in regulating metabolism, cognition, and aging at the organismal level remains poorly understood. Here, we report that dietary supplementation with citrate significantly reduces energy status and extends lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster. Our genetic studies in fruit flies implicate a molecular mechanism associated with AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), target of rapamycin (TOR), and ketogenesis. Mice fed a high-fat diet that supplemented with citrate or the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) also display improved metabolic health and memory. These results suggest that dietary citrate supplementation may prove to be a useful intervention in the future treatment of age-related dysfunction.
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