Germline Cyst Formation in Drosophila

Cuevas, Margaret de; Lilly, Mary A.; Spradling, Allan C.

doi:10.1146/annurev.genet.31.1.405

Cited by 281 publications

(248 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…The first daughter cell remains attached to the niche to ensure the renewal of the GSC and the continuity of the process ( figure 1i,s). The second acquires a cystoblast identity (figure 1i,s) and activates differentiation programmes, moves away from the niche and engages in successive incomplete divisions to become a cyst (figure 1i-n,s) (de Cuevas et al 1996). This distinct fate of GSC progeny in flies is instructed by molecular signals emanating from the neighbouring niche cells (Wong et al 2005).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the role of reproductive constraints in ant social evolution

Khila

Abouheif

2010

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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The reproductive division of labour is a key feature of eusociality in ants, where queen and worker castes show dramatic differences in the development of their reproductive organs. To understand the developmental and genetic basis underlying this division of labour, we performed a molecular analysis of ovary function and germ cell development in queens and workers. We show that the processes of ovarian development in queens have been highly conserved relative to the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. We also identify specific steps during oogenesis and embryogenesis in which ovarian and germ cell development have been evolutionarily modified in the workers. These modifications, which we call 'reproductive constraints', are often assumed to represent neutral degenerations that are a consequence of social evolutionary forces. Based on our developmental and functional analysis of these constraints, however, we propose and discuss the alternative hypothesis that reproductive constraints represent adaptive proximate mechanisms or traits for maintaining social harmony in ants. We apply a multi-level selection framework to help understand the role of these constraints in ant social evolution. A complete understanding of how cooperation, conflict and developmental systems evolve in social groups requires a 'socio-evo-devo' approach that integrates social evolutionary and developmental biology.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the role of reproductive constraints in ant social evolution

Khila

Abouheif

2010

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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“…However, more recently, these germ cell clusters were shown to exhibit the key characteristics of germ line cysts that have been described in Drosophila and other invertebrates (Pepling & Spradling 1998). Germline cysts divide synchronously and are connected by intercellular bridges due to incomplete cytokinesis of oogonial division (de Cuevas et al 1997). Thus, in this review, we will refer to the nests as germ cell cysts.…”

Section: The Process Of Follicular Assemblymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1. Germ cell cysts have been most well studied in Drosophila where the cells undergo four mitotic divisions to form 16 cell cysts (de Cuevas et al 1997). One cell of the cyst becomes the oocyte while the remaining 15 become nurse cells and supply nutrients to the oocyte.…”

Section: The Process Of Follicular Assemblymentioning

confidence: 99%

Follicular assembly: mechanisms of action

Pepling¹

2012

Reproduction

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The differentiation of primordial germ cells (PGCs) into functional oocytes is important for the continuation of species. In mammals, PGCs begin to differentiate into oocytes during embryonic development. Oocytes develop in clusters called germ line cysts. During fetal or neonatal development, germ cell cysts break apart into single oocytes that become surrounded by pregranulosa cells to form primordial follicles. During the process of cyst breakdown, a subset of cells in each cyst undergoes cell death with only one-third of the initial number of oocytes surviving to form primordial follicles. The mechanisms that control cyst breakdown, oocyte survival, and follicle assembly are currently under investigation. This review describes the mechanisms that have been implicated in the control of primordial follicle formation, which include programmed cell death regulation, growth factor and other signaling pathways, regulation by transcription factors and hormones, meiotic progression, and changes in cell adhesion. Elucidation of mechanisms leading to formation of the primordial follicle pool will help research efforts in ovarian biology and improve treatments of female infertility, premature ovarian failure, and reproductive cancers.

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“…These cells display a novel cytoplasmic structure, the spectrosome, which characterizes both GSCs and daughter CBs, and is enriched for membrane skeletal proteins such as ␣-and ␤-spectrin, the adducin-like Hts protein and ankyrin (16,17,18). When the cystoblast undergoes four synchronous nuclear divisions with incomplete cytokinesis, the spectrosome enlarges into the fu- some that stretches through each of the cytoplasmic bridges connecting the 16 daughter cells (19). In bam Ϫ ovarioles, the GSC-like cells retain the spherical spectrosome, without developing the elongated fusome structure (20).…”

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confidence: 99%