Metabolism requires precise gene regulation to balance energy intake and expenditure for an organism's well-being, with misregulation often leading to metabolic syndromes. This study reveals that the brain-specific microRNA miR-1000 regulates fat storage by controlling the expression of a neuropeptide gene, Nplp1 Loss of miR-1000 increases Nplp1 expression, leading to higher body weight, increased fat storage, improved survival under food deprivation conditions, and a reduced overall life span in Drosophila We further show that miR-1000 promotes fat storage upon feeding by regulating triacylglyceride (TAG) synthesis and storage in lipid droplets, thereby playing a crucial role in metabolic regulation.
Verma et al. (2026) studied this question.