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First published online December 1, 2003

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Egg provision for the future

In Drosophila ovaries, germ-line stem cells (GSCs) reside in a specialised niche at the anterior of each germarium. GSCs divide asymmetrically, the anterior cell remaining in the niche as a GSC and the posterior cell differentiating into a cystoblast from which an egg will eventually develop. On p. 6625, Gilboa et al. report that Zero population growth (Zpg), a gap-junction protein, is required for both GSC differentiation and survival. They show that although GSCs lacking Zpg can divide, few germ cells become cystoblasts, as indicated by lack of synthesis of the Bag of marbles protein BamC, a cystoblast marker. Instead, the daughter cell destined to differentiate dies. The researchers propose that zpg acts in parallel to the genes bam and benign gonial cell neoplasm, which encode proteins that are needed for differentiation of the cystoblast, and also suggest that GSC differentiation into a cystoblast is gradual, occurring via an intermediate state.

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Related articles in Development:

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

Lilach Gilboa, Alexandria Forbes, Salli I. Tazuke, Margaret T. Fuller, and Ruth Lehmann
Development 2003 130: 6625-6634. [Abstract] [Full Text]  

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in Development Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?