Dietary sucrose defines lifespan and metabolism in Drosophila

Abstract

Nutrition affects various life-history traits. We used fruit flies Drosophila melanogaster to determine whether life-history traits, particularly life span and metabolism, are affected by dietary sucrose content. We fed flies by four different diets containing constant yeast concentration and increasing amounts of sugar ranged from 1% to 20%. We found that low sucrose diet increases female lifespan. We also showed, that low dietary sucrose maximized malate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase activity in males and lactate dehydrogenase activity in females. In addition, dietary carbohydrate has a considerable impact on urea level, suggesting that dietary carbohydrate impacts overall metabolism. Our findings revealed the influence of dietary sugar on metabolic enzymes activities, indicating an existence of optimal nutritional conditions for prolongevity phenotype and confirming an important impact of dietary sugar on life-history traits.

Parental dietary sucrose affects metabolic and antioxidant enzyme activities in Drosophila

“…We observed that parental flies fed on a diet with low sucrose concentration give rise to progeny males with enhanced metabolic and antioxidant enzyme activities. Our previous data showed that lower sucrose concentration in the diet also caused life span extension in Drosophila (Strilbytska et al 2020a). Moreover, the longevity phenotype in flies that consumed a low sucrose diet was accompanied by higher activities of metabolic enzymes including LDH, MDH and AST (Strilbytska et al 2020a).…”

“…Our previous data showed that lower sucrose concentration in the diet also caused life span extension in Drosophila (Strilbytska et al 2020a). Moreover, the longevity phenotype in flies that consumed a low sucrose diet was accompanied by higher activities of metabolic enzymes including LDH, MDH and AST (Strilbytska et al 2020a). In the current work, we observed that increased metabolic enzyme activities in response to low carbohydrate content in the parental diet can be inherited in their progeny.…”

“…Samples were then centrifuged at 16 000 g for 15 min at 4 C (Eppendorf 5415R) and supernatants were collected for determination of enzyme activities, thiols and urea content. (Perkhulyn et al 2017;Strilbytska et al 2020a). To calculate activities of G6PDH, IDH, MDH and LDH an absorption coefficient for NADPH/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide + hydrogen (NADH) of 6220 mol/L À1 /cm was used.…”

“…LDH and MDH) or amino acid metabolism (e.g. aminotransferases) are often affected by dietary interventions (Strilbytska et al 2020a). The present study analyzed the effects of dietary sugar levels on the subsequent activities of a number of enzymes in the F1 generation.…”

“…Carbohydrate consumption alters the functioning of metabolic pathways including glycolysis, the Krebs cycle and gluconeogenesis that all contribute greatly to carbohydrate metabolism (Rui 2014). In addition, carbohydrate consumption can influence the metabolism of other macromolecules through amphibolic steps in certain pathways and by altering signaling pathways (Strilbytska et al 2020a). It was shown that dietary carbohydrates can alter protein and lipid biosynthesis, thus affecting metabolic balance in general (Wise 2008).…”