Handling Editor: Swathi Arur
ABSTRACT
Programmed cell death and consecutive removal of cellular remnants is essential for development. During late stages of Drosophila melanogaster oogenesis, the small somatic follicle cells that surround the large nurse cells promote non-apoptotic nurse cell death, subsequently engulf them, and contribute to the timely removal of nurse cell corpses. Here, we identify a role for Vps13 in the timely removal of nurse cell corpses downstream of developmental programmed cell death. Vps13 is an evolutionarily conserved peripheral membrane protein associated with membrane contact sites and lipid transfer. It is expressed in late nurse cells, and persistent nurse cell remnants are observed when Vps13 is depleted from nurse cells but not from follicle cells. Microscopic analysis revealed enrichment of Vps13 in close proximity to the plasma membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum in nurse cells undergoing degradation. Ultrastructural analysis uncovered the presence of an underlying Vps13-dependent membranous structure in close association with the plasma membrane. The newly identified structure and function suggests the presence of a Vps13-dependent process required for complete degradation of bulky remnants of dying cells.
Footnotes
Competing interests
O.C.M.S. is a co-inventor on three patent applications for the use of 4′-phosphopantetheine for Coenzyme A-linked disorders. O.C.M.S. serves as non-compensated executive for the Stichting Lepelaar and the Spoonbill Foundation, two not-for-profit organizations. All other authors declare no competing or financial interests.
Author contributions
Conceptualization: A.I.E.F., N.A.G., C.R., O.C.M.S.; Methodology: A.I.E.F., C.I., M.v.d.Z., H.S., E.E.-M., B.K., J.K., B.N.G.G., R.F., N.A.G.; Validation: A.I.E.F.; Formal analysis: A.I.E.F., C.I., M.v.d.Z., H.S., E.E.-M., B.K., R.F., N.A.G., O.C.M.S.; Investigation: A.I.E.F., C.I., M.v.d.Z., H.S., E.E.-M., B.K., R.F., N.A.G.; Data curation: A.I.E.F.; Writing - original draft: A.I.E.F., C.R., O.C.M.S.; Writing - review & editing: A.I.E.F., H.S., B.N.G.G., N.A.G., O.C.M.S.; Visualization: A.I.E.F., B.N.G.G., N.A.G., C.R.; Supervision: N.A.G., C.R., O.C.M.S.; Project administration: O.C.M.S.; Funding acquisition: O.C.M.S.
Funding
This work was supported by a Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek VICI grant (865.10.012) and a Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek ALW Open grant (ALWOP.252) to O.C.M.S.
Supplementary information
Supplementary information available online at https://dev.biologists.org/lookup/doi/10.1242/dev.191759.supplemental
- Received April 20, 2020.
- Accepted September 15, 2020.
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