Cell-Intrinsic Functions and Regulation of TOR Signaling in Drosophila

This chapter discusses cell-intrinsic functions and regulation of target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling in Drosophila. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has been a valuable animal model system for a multitude of experimental questions, and has proven to be amenable to studies of signaling pathways. The full repertoire of technical approaches available in this system have been applied to the study of TOR signaling, including innovative genetic screens, high-throughput expression profiling, detailed cell biological analyses, and sensitive genetic interaction studies. Results from these diverse lines of study have provided the field with new information and insights into the TOR pathway—from identification of novel signaling factors to elucidation of regulatory mechanisms and physiologically relevant targets. The chapter highlights the progress in understanding the regulation and cellular functions of TOR stemming from work in the Drosophila system. The chapter also emphasizes on a variety of genetics-based approaches that have been used to dissect different aspects of this pathway.