Insulin Signaling Pathway Mediates FoxO–Pepck Axis Regulation of Glucose Homeostasis in Drosophila suzukii

Abstract

The agricultural pest Drosophila suzukii exhibits a strong preference for feeding on fresh fruits, demonstrating high adaptability to sugary environments. Meanwhile, high sugar levels stimulate insulin secretion, thereby regulating the steady state of sugar metabolism. Understanding the mechanisms related to sugar metabolism in D. suzukii is crucial due to its adaptation to these specific environmental conditions. The insulin signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved phosphorylation cascade with significant roles in development and metabolism. We observed that the activation of the insulin signaling pathway inhibited FoxO activity and downregulated the expression of Pepck, thereby activating glycolysis and reducing glucose levels. By contrast, inhibiting insulin signaling increased the FoxO activity and upregulated the expression of Pepck, which activated gluconeogenesis and led to increased glucose levels. Our findings demonstrated the crucial role of the insulin signaling pathway in mediating glucose metabolism through the FoxO–Pepck axis, which supports the ecological adaptation of D. suzukii to high-sugar niches, thereby providing insights into its metabolic control and suggesting potential strategies for pest management. Elucidating these molecular processes is important for understanding metabolic regulation and ecological specialization in D. suzukii.