High impact information on Cct1

• Cct1, a phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis enzyme, is required for Drosophila oogenesis and ovarian morphogenesis [1].
• In addition, Cct1 mutants display a novel branched ovariole phenotype, demonstrating a requirement for this gene during ovarian morphogenesis [1].
• Through this analysis, we have identified tandem Drosophila genes homologous to CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT), the second of three enzymes in the CDP-choline pathway, which is used to synthesize phosphatidylcholine [1].
• CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT) is an enzyme critical for cellular phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis, converting phosphocholine and cytidine 5'-triphosphate (CTP) to CDP-choline [2].
• Mutants in the Drosophila phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase 1 (CCT1), the rate-limiting enzyme in PC biosynthesis, show an altered phospholipid composition with reduced PC and increased phosphatidylinositol (PI) levels [3].

Biological context of Cct1

• CCT1- cells show an increase in endocytosis and enlarged endosomal compartments, whereas lysosomal delivery is unchanged [3].
• Transcriptional activation of the murine CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase gene (Ctpct): combined action of upstream stimulatory and inhibitory cis-acting elements [4].

Anatomical context of Cct1

• Mutations in Cct1 result in a number of defects, including a loss of germline stem cell maintenance, mispositioning of the oocyte, and a shortened operculum, suggesting that Cct1 plays multiple roles during oogenesis [1].

References