PgmNr D1334: Genome-wide association study to examine insulin resistance in a Drosophila model.

Authors:
K. Slater; B. Wininger; J. Stamm


Institutes
University of Evansville, Evansville, IN.


Keyword: diabetes

Abstract:

Dietary factors can alter Drosophila metabolism and induce insulin resistance in a similar fashion as in humans. Drosophila therefore provides a simple and genetically tractable model for identifying genetic factors associated with human diabetes. We are carrying out a genome-wide association study to identify genomic regions that contribute to the development of insulin resistance, using the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP), a collection of ~200 fully sequenced inbred Drosophila lines. 

Mated females from each line were fed either a normal diet or a high sugar, insulin resistance-inducing diet, and weight gain, fertility, and lifespan were measured under each dietary condition. We have completed the analysis for 30 lines, and have identified several lines in which the high sugar diet had an extreme effect on these traits. We are currently verifying these results with metabolite assays, and continuing our analysis of additional DGRP lines to identify correlations between particular genomic regions and increased or decreased susceptibility to insulin resistance. Our efforts will lead to increased understanding of the genes underlying insulin resistance and type II diabetes.