Mammalian puberty: a fly perspective

Mammalian puberty and Drosophila metamorphosis, despite their evolutionary distance, exhibit similar design principles and conservation of molecular components. In this Viewpoint, we review recent advances in this area and the similarities between both processes in terms of the signaling pathways and neuroendocrine circuits involved. We argue that the detection and uptake of peripheral fat by Drosophila prothoracic endocrine cells induces endomembrane remodeling and ribosomal maturation, leading to the acquisition of high biosynthetic and secretory capacity. The absence of this fat-neuroendocrine interorgan communication leads to giant, obese, non-pupating larvae. Importantly, human leptin is capable of signaling the pupariation process in Drosophila, and its expression prevents obesity and triggers maturation in mutants that do not pupate. This implies that insect metamorphosis can be used to address issues related to the biology of leptin and puberty.This work was supported by grants BFU2016-76295-R and SEV-2017-0723 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by ERDF ‘A way of making Europe,’ a CSIC Grant (2019AEP181), and a Generalitat Valenciana Grant (PROMETEU/2021/027) to JM; and by grant BES-2017-081122 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by ESF ‘Investing in your future’ to JC-V.Peer reviewe