From fat fruit fly to human obesity.

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease that has become a global problem. Although a tremendous amount of effort has been spent to prevent and treat obesity, its etiology is still largely unknown and there are not yet sufficient strategies to control obesity. Recently, the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has become a useful model for studying metabolic homeostasis and obesity related disorders. The goal of this mini-review is to summarize the recent achievements of Drosophila models and to highlight the experimental protocols used in studying feeding behavior and energy homeostasis in the fly. The Drosophila models provide useful tools to understand obesity pathogenesis and to develop novel therapeutics.

• Authors: Wanli W Smith, Joseph Thomas, Jingnan Liu, Tianxia Li, Timothy H Moran
• Journal: Physiology & behavior (Physiol Behav) Vol. 136 Pg. 15-21 (Sep 2014) ISSN: 1873-507X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24508822 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Fats

Topics

• Animals
• Disease Models, Animal
• Drosophila
• Fats (metabolism)
• Feeding Behavior
• Homeostasis (genetics)
• Humans
• Obesity (genetics, metabolism)