Lipid requirements for brain development and function: what we can learn from Drosophila melanogaster

Lipids are required for brain development and function. Impaired lipid metabolism is associated with various neurodevelopmental conditions. Recent work in Drosophila has begun to reveal the cellular and molecular basis of the role of lipids in this process. Here, we focus on the requirement of lipids in the neuroblasts, neurons, and glia of the Drosophila brain. Specifically, we discuss their role in neuroblast proliferation and fate determination, cellular morphology, neuronal fueling, and phagocytosis. We conclude by reviewing lipid profiling techniques and discuss the implications of these roles on neurodevelopment and disease.