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Insect Fat Body: Energy, Metabolism, and Regulation
January 2010
January 2010
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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.