Insulin dependent regulation of the serotonin transporter (sert or 5-htt) function in food intake using drosophila melanogaster as a model system

Eating disorders occurring by food intake such as obesity, and type II diabetes, are one of the most prevalent diseases in the world. They have become a topic of various research to understand its psychological and molecular mechanisms for a long time. However, the exact mechanisms are still not known. Thus, more research is needed to understand detailed mechanisms that are triggered by food intake. How serotonin, insulin and their signaling pathways have been shown separately to regulate food intake. This project addressed how serotonin transporter is regulated by insulin signaling by food intake in Drosophila melanogaster. ERp44 is responsible for glycosylation of the Sert in Asp208 and Asp 217 via insulin signaling. So, the ERp44 protein should be researched and targeted for its function in food intake. In this thesis, the metabolic and taste-dependent regulation was discovered by developmentally decreased insulin signaling on Sert3-GAL4 targeted neurons. The taste-dependent regulation was observed by developmentally enhanced serotonin signaling on Sert3-GAL4 targeted neurons. The carbohydrate specific uptake was decreased by developmentally diminished ERp44 on Sert3-GAL4 targeted neurons. The possible interaction between serotonin transporter and insulin signaling via ERp44 protein was tried to understand in food intake. Key Words: Eating Disorders, Drosophila melanogaster, insulin, insulin signaling, serotonin, serotonin transporter, serotonin signaling, endoplasmic reticulum, endoplasmic reticulum stress, ERp44