bantam Is Required for Optic Lobe Development and Glial Cell Proliferation

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small, conserved, non-coding RNAs that contribute to the control of many different cellular processes, including cell fate specification and growth control. Drosophila bantam, a conserved miRNA, is involved in several functions, such as stimulating proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis in the wing disc. Here, we reported the detailed expression pattern of bantam in the developing optic lobe, and demonstrated a new, essential role in promoting proliferation of mitotic cells in the optic lobe, including stem cells and differentiated glial cells. Changes in bantam levels autonomously affected glial cell number and distribution, and non-autonomously affected photoreceptor neuron axon projection patterns. Furthermore, we showed that bantam promotes the proliferation of mitotically active glial cells and affects their distribution, largely through down regulation of the T-box transcription factor, optomotor-blind (omb, Flybase, bifid). Expression of omb can rescue the bantam phenotype, and restore the normal glial cell number and proper glial cell positioning in most Drosophila brains. These results suggest that bantam is critical for maintaining the stem cell pools in the outer proliferation center and glial precursor cell regions of the optic lobe, and that its expression in glial cells is crucial for their proliferation and distribution

Increasing pulse consumption to improve human health and food security and to mitigate climate change

Human food security requires both the production of sufficient quantities of high-quality protein and dietary change. This is particularly relevant given the present concurrence of rising human population, climate change and changing consumption habits. Pulses are recognized as being readily available sources of protein, complex carbohydrates, fibres, vitamins and minerals. Additionally, pulses, as well as other legumes, have the exceptional capacity of significantly increasing soil fertility, yields of companion or subsequent crops, biodiversity, environmental protection and climate change mitigation. Despite this, the use of pulses for food purposes is low in Western Europe, where pulses are mainly used for feed. This chapter reviews some of the environmental, nutritional and health benefits of pulses, and presents the main results of a campaign developed in a food service setting as an example of ways to increase the amount of pulse consumption. Results show a high acceptability of pulse consumption, whenever food services present alternatives to meat protein based on pulse protein.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio