Abstract
To survive and successfully reproduce animals need to maintain a balanced intake of nutrients and energy. The nervous system of insects has evolved multiple mechanisms to regulate feeding behavior. When animals are faced with the choice to feed, several decisions must be made: whether or not to eat, how much to eat, what to eat, and when to eat. Using Drosophila melanogaster substantial progress has been achieved in understanding the neuronal and molecular mechanisms controlling feeding decisions. These feeding decisions are implemented in the nervous system on multiple levels, from alterations in the sensitivity of peripheral sensory organs to the modulation of memory systems. This review discusses methodologies developed in order to study insect feeding, the effects of neuropeptides and neuromodulators on feeding behavior, behavioral evidence supporting the existence of internal energy sensors, neuronal and molecular mechanisms controlling protein intake, and finally the regulation of feeding by circadian rhythms and sleep. From the discussed data a conceptual framework starts to emerge which aims to explain the molecular and neuronal processes maintaining the stability of the internal milieu.
Highlights
In order to survive and reproduce animals must provide themselves with an adequate supply of energy and nutrients
We focus on the feeding behavior of the adult Drosophila melanogaster, since the powerful molecular genetics of this model organism has provided the scientific community with many insights into the mechanisms of insect feeding behavior
Given the fact that the TOR/suppression of the RPS6-p70protein kinase (S6K) pathway is best known as a cellular nutrient sensing pathway reporting the lack of amino acids (Wullschleger et al, 2006; Liao et al, 2008), and has been shown to regulate feeding behavior in vertebrates (Cota et al, 2006), it is very attractive to speculate that this pathway could act as a neuronal nutrient sensor, underlying changes in feeding decisions upon ingestion of imbalanced diets
Summary
In order to survive and reproduce animals must provide themselves with an adequate supply of energy and nutrients. Under this selective pressure animals have evolved highly sophisticated and diverse repertoires of behavior to obtain food. This is especially evident in insects, which exhibit a vast variety of feeding habits some of which have been conserved through evolution between insects and mammals. We focus on the feeding behavior of the adult Drosophila melanogaster, since the powerful molecular genetics of this model organism has provided the scientific community with many insights into the mechanisms of insect feeding behavior
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