Rapamycin in fruit flies: sex-biased aging trajectory in a single-nucleus atlas
In a whole-organism single-nucleus atlas of fruit flies, rapamycin reduced a convergent aging trajectory that accumulated with age, especially in females; the abstract reports this as an atlas framework, not a human lifespan result. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The atlas covers both sexes, multiple ages, 18 cell classes and 181 cell types of Drosophila. [1]
A rapamycin-sensitive Convergent Aging Trajectory was marked by Fkbp12 enrichment and mTORC1-linked metabolic programs. [1]
CAT-high nuclei accumulated with age and were preferentially reduced by rapamycin, especially in females. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Whole-organism single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas (abstract)
- Population / context
- Fruit flies (Drosophila) of both sexes at multiple ages
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Publication status
- Preprint · peer-review status not confirmed
- Original publication
- July 3, 2026
Fly atlas across sexes, ages and cell types
The authors built the Rapamycin Fly Cell Atlas, a whole-organism single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas of the fruit fly Drosophila. It covers both sexes, multiple ages, 18 cell classes and 181 cell types. Rapamycin's response was highly heterogeneous: effects were prominent in reproductive, digestive and neuromuscular systems and modest in most neuronal populations.
Supporting source [1]
Aging trajectory high in Fkbp12 reduced by rapamycin
Across diverse tissues the authors identified a rapamycin-sensitive Convergent Aging Trajectory (CAT), marked by enrichment of Fkbp12 and mTORC1-linked metabolic programs such as glycolysis and lipid synthesis. Nuclei high in CAT accumulated with age and were preferentially reduced by rapamycin, especially in females. The authors note this is consistent with stronger female lifespan extension.
Supporting source [1]
Mapping geroprotection by sex and cell type
By combining CAT abundance, aging-clock predictions and changes in nucleus ratios, the authors mapped sex- and cell-type-specific geroprotection effects of rapamycin. They present the atlas as an organism-wide framework for studying how rapamycin reshapes cellular aging across sex, tissue and cellular state.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is a Drosophila single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas, not a human study. The link to stronger female lifespan extension is described as consistent, not proven here, and the atlas is presented as a framework.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Lu T, Liang C, Park Y, Auld N, Jackson T, Yin Z, Harrison E, Sun B, Qadiri M, Perrimon N, Hsu A, Qi Y, Li H. · europepmc.org · July 3, 2026