Starvation-induced regulation of carbohydrate transport at the blood-brain barrier is TGF-β-signaling dependent.

ABSTRACT: During hunger or malnutrition, animals prioritize alimentation of the brain over other organs to ensure its function and, thus, their survival. This protection, also-called brain sparing, is described from Drosophila to humans. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms adapting carbohydrate transport. Here, we used Drosophila genetics to unravel the mechanisms operating at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) under nutrient restriction. During starvation, expression of the carbohydrate transporter Tret1-1 is increased to provide more efficient carbohydrate uptake. Two mechanisms are responsible for this increase. Similar to the regulation of mammalian GLUT4, Rab-dependent intracellular shuttling is needed for Tret1-1 integration into the plasma membrane; even though Tr

SUBMITTER: Hertenstein H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8149124 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature