Figure 3. Reducing TOR function prevents HFD obesity.

A) Comparison of changes in TG levels (expressed as relative change from NF flies) between wt, TOR^7/P and systemic TSC1-2 overexpression (arm>TSC1-2 flies). At least 3 independent experiments were performed for each time point for all TG experiments. A significant increase in TGs were seen in wt flies (*** p<0.0001) fed a 30% HFD for 5 days, while TOR mutants (n=46) started with lower levels of TG under NF and these levels did not increase even on 30% HFD (n=48). arm>TSC flies (n=30) had similar levels as the wt control flies but these levels did not increase when placed on a HFD. B) Relative Bmm (AGTL Lipase) mRNA transcript levels. There is a slight increase in Lipase levels in wt under 30% HFD conditions (p<0.05). In contrast, TOR^7/P mutants have a 3-fold increase in Bmm levels under NF conditions and remain high under HFD conditions. All qPCR were done in triplicate. C) Expression of FAS transcript levels in wt and TOR^7/P mutants under both NF and 30% HFD conditions for 5 days. TOR^7/P flies show significantly lower FAS mRNA levels than the corresponding wt flies on the same diets (** p<0.01). All qPCR were done in triplicate. D) Graphical representation of the effects of time and Geotaxic activity. Flies were filmed for 5 seconds then the movie was analyzed and individual flies were counted at each height 1cm being the lowest portion of the vial with 7 cm being the highest part of the vial. A minimum of 150 flies were used for each variable. All flies eventually moved to the top of the vial but we only counted the position of the flies to the allotted 5 second time span. Unlike wt, TOR^7/P seem to have an inherent defect in their geotaxic yet this phenotype was exacerbated when fed a HFD.