NMR metabolomic analysis of Drosophila extracts: 3 genotypes (control, RNAi Opa1 in muscle, RNAi Marf in muscle), 3 body regions (head, thorax, abdomen), 2 ages (30 days, 65 days)

RNAi of the Drosophila mitochondrial fusion genes Opa1 and Marf (Mitofusin 2) in the muscle results in an extended lifespan. In order to unravel the metabolic changes in the long-living flies we analysed the metabolome by NMR spectroscopy, comparing the two knock-down genotypes to a wild type control at two ages: 30 days (young flies) and 65 days (old flies). In order to detect autonomous and non-autonomous changes, we also divided the samples in three anatomical regions: head (mostly neural tissue) thorax (mostly muscle), and abdomen (visceral, reproductive, metabolic control)