Dietary Zinc Limitation Dictates Lifespan and Reproduction Trade-Offs of Drosophila Mothers.

ABSTRACT: Dietary metal ions significantly influence the lifespan and reproduction of Drosophila females. In this study, we show that not adding any of the metal ions to the diet adversely affects reproduction and lifespan. By contrast, food with no added Zn negatively impacts reproduction but does not adversely affect maternal lifespan, indicating it can dictate resource reallocation between key fitness traits. Specifically, it indicates that female flies stop producing eggs to conserve their body Zn for somatic maintenance. Although these data show that flies can sense varying dietary Zn levels to adjust their physiology, they cannot maximise egg production when faced with a choice between food with no added Zn or food with sufficient Zn to support maximum reproduction. Nonetheless, they can choos

SUBMITTER: Sarmah S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12073914 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature