Insulin/IGF signaling and its regulation in Drosophila

Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2015 Sep 15:221:255-66. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.11.021. Epub 2015 Jan 20.

Abstract

Taking advantage of Drosophila as a genetically tractable experimental animal much progress has been made in our understanding of how the insulin/IGF signaling (IIS) pathway regulates development, growth, metabolism, stress responses and lifespan. The role of IIS in regulation of neuronal activity and behavior has also become apparent from experiments in Drosophila. This review briefly summarizes these functional roles of IIS, and also how the insulin producing cells (IPCs) are regulated in the fly. Furthermore, we discuss functional aspects of the spatio-temporal production of eight different insulin-like peptides (DILP1-8) that are thought to act on one known receptor (dInR) in Drosophila.

Keywords: Drosophila melanogaster; Insulin; Insulin-like peptides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drosophila / growth & development
  • Drosophila / metabolism*
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Insulin
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1