Discovery of a New Organelle in Well-Studied Organisms

Researchers at Rockefeller University have discovered a new organelle inside the gut cells of fruit flies that stores phosphate, an electrolyte essential to life. The organelle, called PXo bodies, releases its reservoir in the form of phospholipids, which are a key component of the membrane structure of cells. The discovery may lead to a search for phosphate-storing organelles in other animals, including humans, and further research may help us understand how the organelle fits into the life of the cell and how it changes over time.