A nutrient sensor mechanism controls Drosophila growth
Open accessAbstract
Organisms modulate their growth according to nutrient availability. Although individual cells in a multicellular animal may respond directly to nutrient levels, growth of the entire organism needs to be coordinated. Here, we provide evidence that in Drosophila, coordination of organismal growth originates from the fat body, an insect organ that retains endocrine and storage functions of the vertebrate liver. In a genetic screen for growth modifiers, we identified slimfast, a gene that encodes an amino acid transporter. Remarkably, downregulation of slimfast specifically within the fat body causes a global growth defect similar to that seen in Drosophila raised under poor nutritional conditions. This involves TSC/TOR signaling in the fat body, and a remote inhibition of organismal growth via local repression of PI3-kinase signaling in peripheral tissues. Our results demonstrate that the fat body functions as a nutrient sensor that restricts global growth through a humoral mechanism.
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- Authors
- Colombani, J., Raisin, S., Pantalacci, S., Radimerski, T., Montagne, J., & Léopold, P.
- Affiliations
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Friedrich Miescher Institute (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Léopold, Pierre
- Venue
- Cell
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2003-09
- Volume
- 114
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 739-749
- ISSN
- 0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2011055466
- Cited by
- 809
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 24 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 50 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 50 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 42 · 2014: 41 · 2013: 53 · 2012: 38
- FWCI
- 8.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Cell (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in cancer
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Keywords
- organismal growth, nutrient sensing, fat body, amino acid transporters, PI3K signaling, humoral regulation, Drosophila
- MeSH terms
- Amino Acids, Animals, Drosophila melanogaster, Fat Body, Food Deprivation, Juvenile Hormones, Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Signal Transduction, Down-Regulation, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases, Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases, Feedback, Physiological, Amino Acid Transport Systems, Drosophila Proteins
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