ABSTRACT
D uring development in Drosophila, larvae increase in mass by 1,000-fold over the course of a few days. This high rate of growth is controlled by TOR, a potent regulator of both protein synthesis and autophagy. At metamorphosis, most larval tissues are histolyzed through autophagy-mediated cell death in response to high levels of the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone. Other tissues are dramatically remodeled into adult structures at this time, and autophagy again plays a role. This chapter describes the occurrence and func tion of autophagy in Drosophila development, emphasizing the regulatory roles of TOR and ecdysone signaling.
