Insect Fat Body: Energy, Metabolism, and Regulation

Overview

Journal Annu Rev Entomol

Specialty Biology

Date 2009 Sep 4

PMID 19725772

Citations 751

Authors

Estela L Arrese

Jose L Soulages

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The fat body plays major roles in the life of insects. It is a dynamic tissue involved in multiple metabolic functions. One of these functions is to store and release energy in response to the energy demands of the insect. Insects store energy reserves in the form of glycogen and triglycerides in the adipocytes, the main fat body cell. Insect adipocytes can store a great amount of lipid reserves as cytoplasmic lipid droplets. Lipid metabolism is essential for growth and reproduction and provides energy needed during extended nonfeeding periods. This review focuses on energy storage and release and summarizes current understanding of the mechanisms underlying these processes in insects.

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