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First published online December 1, 2003
doi: 10.1242/10.1242/dev.00853

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Germ line stem cell differentiation in Drosophila requires gap junctions and proceeds via an intermediate state

Lilach Gilboa¹, Alexandria Forbes^*, Salli I. Tazuke^2,3,, Margaret T. Fuller^2,4 and Ruth Lehmann^1,

¹ Developmental Genetics Program, Skirball Institute at NYU School of Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 540 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
² Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5329, USA
³ Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5329, USA
⁴ Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5329, USA

Author for correspondence (e-mail: lehmann{at}saturn.med.nyu.edu)

Accepted 10 September 2003

Gap junctions coordinate processes ranging from muscle contraction to ovarian follicle development. Here we show that the gap junction protein Zero population growth (Zpg) is required for germ cell differentiation in the Drosophila ovary. In the absence of Zpg the stem cell daughter destined to differentiate dies. The zpg phenotype is novel, and we used this phenotype to genetically dissect the process of stem cell maintenance and differentiation. Our findings suggest that germ line stem cells differentiate upon losing contact with their niche, that gap junction mediated cell-cell interactions are required for germ cell differentiation, and that in Drosophila germ line stem cell differentiation to a cystoblast is gradual.

Key words: zpg, Drosophila, Stem cell, Germ line, Gap junction

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