Reference Report

Reference
Citation	Grant, J., Saldanha, J.W., Gould, A.P. (2010). A Drosophila model for primary coenzyme Q deficiency and dietary rescue in the developing nervous system. Dis. Model Mech. 3(11-12): 799--806. (Export to RIS)
FlyBase ID	FBrf0212188
Publication Type	Research paper
PubMed ID	20889762
PubMed Abstract	Coenzyme Q (CoQ) or ubiquinone is a lipid component of the electron transport chain required for ATP generation in mitochondria. Mutations in CoQ biosynthetic genes are associated with rare but severe infantile multisystemic diseases. CoQ itself is a popular over-the-counter dietary supplement that some clinical and rodent studies suggest might be beneficial for neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we identify mutations in the Drosophila qless gene, which encodes an orthologue of the human PDSS1 prenyl transferase that synthesizes the isoprenoid side chain of CoQ. We show that neurons lacking qless activity upregulate markers of mitochondrial stress and undergo caspase-dependent apoptosis. Surprisingly, even though experimental inhibition of caspase activity did not prevent mitochondrial disruption, it was sufficient to rescue the size of neural progenitor clones. This demonstrates that, within the developing larval CNS, qless activity is required primarily for cell survival rather than for cell growth and proliferation. Full rescue of the qless neural phenotype was achieved by dietary supplementation with CoQ4, CoQ9 or CoQ10, indicating that a side chain as short as four isoprenoid units can provide in vivo activity. Together, these findings show that Drosophila qless provides a useful model for studying the neural effects of CoQ deficiency and dietary supplementation.
DOI	10.1242/dmm.005579
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Language of Publication	English
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Publication Type	Journal
Abbreviation	Dis. Model Mech.
Title	Disease models & mechanisms
Publication Year
ISBN/ISSN	1754-8403 1754-8411
Data from Reference
Aberrations (2)
	Df(3R)Exel6218 Df(3R)tll-e
Alleles (5)
	BacA\p35^Scer\UAS.cHa qless¹⁰⁹ qless²⁶⁴ qless^EP984 Scer\GAL4^unspecified
Constructs (2)
	P{GAL4} P{UAS-p35.H}
Genes (7)
	BacA\p35 Cyt-c-d Cyt-c-p Hsp60 mira qless Scer\GAL4
Insertions (1)
	P{EP}qless^EP984