Somatic Cyst Cells as a Microenvironment for the Maintenance and Differentiation of Germline Cells in Drosophila Spermatogenesis

AbstractIn all metazoan species, sperm is produced from germline stem cells. These self-renew and produce daughter cells that amplify and differentiate dependent on interactions with somatic support cells. In the male gonad of Drosophila melanogaster, the germline and somatic cyst cells co-differentiate as cysts, an arrangement in which the germline is completely enclosed by cytoplasmic extensions from the cyst cells. Notch is a developmentally relevant receptor in a pathway requiring immediate proximity with the signal sending cell. Here, we show that Notch is expressed in the cyst cells of wild-type testes. Notch becomes activated in the transition zone, an apical area of the testes in which the cyst cells express stage-specific transcription factors and the enclosed germline finalizes transit-amplifying divisions. Reducing the ligand Delta from the germline cells via RNA-Interference or reducing the receptor Notch from the cyst cells via CRISPR resulted in cell death concomitant with loss of germline cells from the transition zone. This shows that Notch signaling is essential for the survival of the germline stem cell lineage.

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DNA methylation from germline cells in veterans with PTSD

Journal of Psychiatric Research ◽

10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.06.001 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 116 ◽

pp. 42-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Divya Mehta ◽

Elise S. Pelzer ◽

Dagmar Bruenig ◽

Bruce Lawford ◽

Sarah McLeay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Germline Cells

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The actin-binding protein profilin is required for germline stem cell maintenance and germ cell enclosure by somatic cyst cells

Development ◽

10.1242/dev.101931 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 141 (1) ◽

pp. 73-82 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

A. R. Shields ◽

A. C. Spence ◽

Y. M. Yamashita ◽

E. L. Davies ◽

M. T. Fuller

Keyword(s):

Stem Cell ◽

Germ Cell ◽

Binding Protein ◽

Actin Binding ◽

Germline Stem Cell ◽

Actin Binding Protein ◽

Stem Cell Maintenance ◽

Cyst Cells ◽

Cell Maintenance

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Evidence for Sex Transformation of Germline Cells in Ovarian Tumor Mutants of Drosophila

Developmental Biology ◽

10.1006/dbio.1994.1032 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 161 (1) ◽

pp. 318-320 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Grace Wei ◽

Brian Oliver ◽

Daniel Pauli ◽

Anthony P. Mahowald

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Tumor ◽

Sex Transformation ◽

Germline Cells

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Up-regulation of the Ku heterodimer inDrosophilatesticular cyst cells

FEBS Letters ◽

10.1016/j.febslet.2007.03.042 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 581 (9) ◽

pp. 1707-1715 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Alexander M. Boutanaev ◽

Lyudmila M. Mikhaylova ◽

Dmitry I. Nurminsky

Keyword(s):

Cyst Cells

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Prokaryotic SPHINX 1.8 REP protein is tissue‐specific and expressed in human germline cells

Journal of Cellular Biochemistry ◽

10.1002/jcb.27907 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 120 (4) ◽

pp. 6198-6208 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Laura Manuelidis

Keyword(s):

Tissue Specific ◽

Rep Protein ◽

Germline Cells

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Sir2 non-autonomously controls differentiation of germline cells in the ovary of Drosophila melanogaster

10.1101/631176 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Champakali Ayyub ◽

Ullas Kolthur-Seetharam

Keyword(s):

Genetic Interaction ◽

Ovary Development ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Germline Stem Cells ◽

Daughter Cells ◽

Survival And Development ◽

Germline Differentiation ◽

Germline Cells ◽

Cell Niche

AbstractIn Drosophila ovary, germline stem cells (GSCs) reside in a somatic cell niche that provides them signals necessary for their survival and development. Escort cells (ECs), one of the constituents of the niche, help in differentiation of GSC daughter cells. Since nutritional state is known to affect oogenesis, we set out to address the role of a metabolic sensor. NAD-dependent Sir2 is known to acts as a regulator of organismal life-span in a diet dependent manner. Our current study reveals that Sir2 in somatic cells is necessary for germline differentiation. Specifically, Sir2 in ECs upregulates Dpp signalling giving rise to tumorous germaria. In addition to this non-autonomous role of Sir2 in regulation of the germline cell homeostasis, we have demonstrated that EC-specific Sir2 has a role in attributing the identity of Cap cells as well as in de-differentiation of germline cells. Our study also shows that a genetic interaction between Sir2 and upd2 is important for the development of germline cells. Thus, we provide novel insights into the role of Sir2 in ovary development.

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Probing spermatogenesis in Drosophila with P-element enhancer detectors

Development ◽

10.1242/dev.114.1.89 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 114 (1) ◽

pp. 89-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

P. Gonczy ◽

S. Viswanathan ◽

S. DiNardo

Keyword(s):

Germ Line ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Cell Types ◽

P Element ◽

Structural Reorganization ◽

Germ Cell Differentiation ◽

Distinct Cell ◽

Morphological Criteria ◽

Cyst Cells ◽

A Cell

Formation of motile sperm in Drosophila melanogaster requires the coordination of processes such as stem cell division, mitotic and meiotic control and structural reorganization of a cell. Proper execution of spermatogenesis entails the differentiation of cells derived from two distinct embryonic lineages, the germ line and the somatic mesoderm. Through an analysis of homozygous viable and fertile enhancer detector lines, we have identified molecular markers for the different cell types present in testes. Some lines label germ cells or somatic cyst cells in a stage-specific manner during their differentiation program. These expression patterns reveal transient identities for the cyst cells that had not been previously recognized by morphological criteria. A marker line labels early stages of male but not female germ cell differentiation and proves useful in the analysis of germ line sex-determination. Other lines label the hub of somatic cells around which germ line stem cells are anchored. By analyzing the fate of the somatic hub in an agametic background, we show that the germ line plays some role in directing its size and its position in the testis. We also describe how marker lines enable us to identify presumptive cells in the embryonic gonadal mesoderm before they give rise to morphologically distinct cell types. Finally, this collection of marker lines will allow the characterization of genes expressed either in the germ line or in the soma during spermatogenesis.

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