Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate as a signal for changing from sugar to lipid oxidation during flight in locusts

Abstract

Flight in locusts is initially powered mainly by carbohydrate but if flight is to be sustained, as in migration, the animals have to utilize fat as the predominant fuel. The molecular basis of this metabolic switch has not been identified. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate is a potent activator of 6-phosphofructokinase (EC 2.7.1.11) purified from locust flight muscle. After the first few minutes of flight in the locust the concentration of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in the flight muscle falls dramatically, which should lead to a decrease in the activity of 6-phosphofructokinase as part of the mechanism to conserve carbohydrate during prolonged flight.