Conservation of gene and tissue networks regulating insulin signalling in flies and vertebrates

Fruit flies have emerged as a powerful tool to investigate metabolism. Not only are gene structures and gene networks that control metabolism conserved through evolution, but the interactions among organs to store and process metabolites have strong similarities between flies and humans. Accordingly, the Drosophila system has the potential to address human disorders associated with metabolic dysfunction including obesity, type 2 diabetes and lipotoxicity.