Insulin signalling elicits hunger-induced feeding in Drosophila

Abstract

Insulin, a highly conserved peptide hormone, links nutrient availability to metabolism and growth in animals. In fed states insulin levels remain high and in animals that are food deprived insulin signalling drops. Here, we report that in Drosophila, feeding elicited by short periods of starvation is dependent on insulin signalling. The activity of insulin signalling pathway in the abdominal fatbody aids in feeding during short periods of starvation. A feedback regulatory signalling that involves cells that express the Drosophila hunger hormone short-neuropeptide-F (sNPF) and insulin-producing cells sustain the orexigenic function of insulin. Furthermore, the orexigenic phase of insulin activity aids in the efficient management of nutrient stores and survival of flies during starvation.

Keywords: Abdominal fatbody; Anorexigenic and orexigenic responses; Drosophila insulin-like peptides (DILPs); Feedback regulation; Hunger-induced feeding; Insulin-producing cells (IPCs); Short neuropeptide-F (sNPF).