Mutations in the Insulin Signaling Pathway Genes Affect Carbohydrate Level under Heat Stress in Drosophila melanogaster Females

Abstract

The effect of the following insulin signaling pathway genes on carbohydrate content under normal and heat stress conditions in Drosophila melanogaster females is studied: transcription factor Forkhead box class O (dfoxo) and insulin-like peptide DILP6 (dilp6), which is synthesized in the fat body. The hypomorphic mutations dilp6⁴¹ and foxo^BG01018 are shown to result in an increase in glucose and trehalose levels under normal conditions. For the first time, a sharp decline in the expression level of dilp6 and dfoxo genes caused by these mutations is demonstrated not to prevent the increase in the levels of both sugars under heat stress, but reduce the intensity of this response.