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Ectopic activation of Dpp signalling in the male Drosophila germline inhibits germ cell differentiation
Author(s) -
Bunt Stephanie M.,
Hime Gary R.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/gene.20030
Subject(s) - germline , stem cell , biology , somatic cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cellular differentiation , germ cell , adult stem cell , population , genetics , gene , demography , sociology
The mechanisms that control differentiation of stem cells to specialised cell types probably include factors intrinsic to stem cells as well as extrinsic factors produced by the microenvironment of the stem cell niche. The Drosophila male germline is renewed from a population of stem cells located in the apical tip of the adult testis. The morphological relationship between germline stem cells and their surrounding somatic cells is well understood but the factors that regulate stem cell proliferation and differentiation are still being uncovered. This study examined the effect of stimulating Dpp signalling directly in male germ cells. Ectopic Dpp or Activin signalling resulted in overproliferation of both stem cell‐like and spermatogonial‐like cells in the apical region of the testis. A third cell population that expressed stem cell markers was seen to proliferate in the distal testis when Dpp signalling was either stimulated or repressed in germline stem cells. genesis 39:84–93, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.