A Drosophila model for high fat diet-induced nephro- and hepatotoxicity

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Beschreibung der Arbeit

Drosophila genetics, immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, singe cell RNA-sequencing For more info on the approaches and methodologies of the lab check www.simons-lab.de and the following selected publications: 1. Science 2022 Feb 18;375(6582):eabc4203. doi: 10.1126/science.abc4203. 2. Elife 2022 May 12:11:e74391. doi: 10.7554/eLife.74391.

Lipotoxicity is known to be a mechanism that contributes to organ injury in the context of metabolic diseases. While the accumulation of lipids in the liver is a typical feature of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, increasing data suggest that lipotoxicity is also an important driver of kidney disease. We have recently described a lipotoxicity mechanism in the kidney by which saturated fatty acids reduce membrane fluidity in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), thereby causing ER stress. We also found that the formation of lipid droplets stimulated by monounsaturated fatty acids is protective in this context (Perez-Marti et al, 2022). Here, we want to establish a fly model for high fat diet-induced nephro- and hepatotoxicity to study the molecular regulation of membrane fluidity. We are particularly interested in the role of ER-associated degradation of lipid metabolism players, such as the adiponectin receptor, and its consequences for membrane fluidity in the ER.

Rahmenbedingungen

Participation in lab and institute seminars as well as local MMPU and SFB seminars. Attendance of international conferences is strongly encouraged.

HiWi contract

first authorship (shared) is possible

organization of laboratory internships abroad (e.g. USA) is possible