The roles of the AMP-activated kinase in metabolic homeostasis in Drosophila

食物供应是大多数环境的一个动态方面，对生物体维持恒定的能量储存提出了重大挑战。能量短缺的后果包括反映能量分配变化的行为和生理变化。关于如何利用能量的决策过程的一部分取决于AMP激活激酶的作用，AMP激活激酶是一种高度保守的分子，在能量短缺时变得活跃。同样清楚的是，不同的细胞群体在能量剥夺期间具有不同的反应，尽管还不清楚AMP激活的激酶参与这些过程的程度。该项目利用果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster）中独特的分子和遗传工具，研究AMP激活的激酶如何调节饥饿条件下的行为和生理变化。这项研究将提供有关确定的神经和外周组织内的细胞信号的新信息，这些组织负责产生特定的行为和生理变化，以维持能量稳态。这种特殊分子的进化保守性，以及对饥饿行为反应的保守性，表明这项研究的结果将具有广泛的应用，从害虫管理到潜在的新型疗法的开发。除了提供深入了解AMP激活激酶的细胞特异性作用外，该研究项目还将被用作一种工具，以将研究机会扩展到本科生，并增强弗朗西斯马里恩大学（Marion University）主要本科院校教师的专业发展。最后，该项目将涉及研究生的培训。

Food availability is a dynamic aspect of most environments and places significant challenges on organisms to maintain constant energy stores. The consequences of energy shortage include changes in behavior and physiology that reflect changes in the allocation of energy. Part of the decision process on how energy is utilized depends upon the actions of the AMP-activated kinase, a highly-conserved molecule that becomes active during energy shortages. It is also clear that different cellular populations have differential responses during energy deprivation, although it is unclear the extent that the AMP-activated kinase partakes in these processes. This project takes advantage of the unique molecular and genetic tools available in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to investigate how the AMP-activated kinase regulates behavioral and physiological changes during starvation conditions. This research will contribute new information regarding the cellular signals within defined neural and peripheral tissues that are responsible for generating specific behavioral and physiological changes to maintain energy homeostasis. The evolutionary conservation of this particular molecule, as well as the conservation of behavioral responses to starvation, indicates results of this research will have broad applications, from pest management to the development of potential novel therapeutics. In addition to offering insight into the cell-specific roles of the AMP-activated kinase, this research project will be used as a vehicle to extend research opportunities to undergraduate students and enhance professional development of faculty at a primarily undergraduate institution, Francis Marion University. Lastly, this project will involve the training of graduate students.