Interplay between copper homeostasis and oxidative stress in the nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster

Copper is an essential micronutrient for healthy cells, and both deficiency and toxicity can be harmful. In my thesis, I used fruit flies to study how changes in copper levels affect different brain cell types. I found that glial cells play a key role in maintaining copper homeostasis. In general, when the copper balance was disrupted, the flies had trouble surviving, moving, and developing. I also found that altering the cells’ response to oxidative stress led to similar problems, which may partly overlap with the effects of copper imbalance. Finally, I tested a drug called Elesclomol, which has the potential to help restore copper levels within the body under certain conditions.