Voelzmann, A., Wulf, A.L., Eckardt, F., Thielisch, M., Brondolin, M., Pesch, Y.Y., Sociale, M., Bauer, R., Hoch, M. (2016). Nuclear Drosophila CerS Schlank regulates lipid homeostasis via the homeodomain, independent of the lag1p motif.  FEBS Lett. 590(7): 971--981.

FBrf0232022

Research paper

Drosophila Ceramide Synthase (CerS) Schlank regulates both ceramide synthesis and fat metabolism. Schlank contains a catalytic lag1p motif and, like many CerS in other species, a homeodomain of unknown function. Here, we show that the Drosophila CerS Schlank is imported into the nucleus and requires two nuclear localization signals (NLSs) within its homeodomain and functional Importin-β import machinery. Expression of Schlank variants containing the homeodomain without functional lag1p motif rescued the fat metabolism phenotype of schlank mutants whereas a variant with a mutated NLS site did not rescue. Thus, the homeodomain of Schlank is involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism independent of the catalytic lag1p motif.