Drosophila Stem Cells Flashcards
How long is the life cycle of drosophila?
10 days
What is the ultimate stem cell, able to generate a new generation?
Primordial germ cells (PGCs)
What cellular processes occur during oogenesis?
cell cycle control, fate specification, cell polarization and epithelial morphogenesis
How are germline stem cells maintained in drosophila?
Short range BMP signals from the niche. Regulated by a feedback loop.
How does the extracellular matrix impact oogenesis in drosophila?
Collagen in the extracellular environment is able to bind and prevent spreading of signals
What causes an egg cell to differentiate? (in drosophila)
Asymmetical cell division, pushing a daughter cell out of the stem cell niche
What signal play a role in maintaining germline stem cells in drosophila?
Short range BMP signals
What cells form the niche for germline stem cells in male drosophila?
The Hub cells
What mechanisms maintain the germline stem cells in male drosophila?
Asymmetrical division, symmetrical renewal, reversion/de-differentiation
What two main signals determine if intestinal stem cells will differentiate in the intestine of drosophila?
Notch (differentiate) and BMP inhibition of Notch (stay a stem cell)
What is the role of the Par complex in the development of the intestine of drosophila?
The par complex and integrins direct asymmetric cell division in intestinal stem cells
How does nutrition availability affect the drosophila larva?
Nutrition activated the cell cycle in quiescent larval tissues. Feeding leads to increase in insulin, which induces neuroblast growth
By which mechanism does the drosophila larva respond to nutrients?
The fat body signals via insulin
What cells are good examples of asymmetrical cell division in drosophila?
Intestinal stem cells, neural stem cellsand germ line cells
What controlles the rate of neural stem cell proliferation in drosophila?
Nutritional signals
