10.6084/m9.figshare.12149724.v1
Allison N. Beachum
Allison N.
Beachum
Elizabeth Tweedie Ables
Elizabeth
Tweedie Ables
Germ cell division and encapsulation by somatic cells during Drosophila oogenesis require the orphan nuclear receptor ftz-f1
TAGC 2020
2020
oocyte
escort cells
germline
follicle cells
steroid hormone
nuclear hormone receptor
ecdysone
Developmental Genetics (incl. Sex Determination)
2020-04-20 22:31:00
Poster
https://tagc2020.figshare.com/articles/poster/Germ_cell_division_and_encapsulation_by_somatic_cells_during_Drosophila_oogenesis_require_the_orphan_nuclear_receptor_ftz-f1/12149724
<p>Gamete production in mammals and insects is controlled by
cell signaling pathways that facilitate communication between germ cells and
somatic cells. Nuclear receptor signaling is a key mediator of many aspects of
reproduction, including gametogenesis. For example, the NR5A sub-family of
nuclear receptors are essential for gonadogenesis and sex steroid production in
mammals. Yet despite the original identification of the NR5A sub-family in the
model insect <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>,
it has been unclear whether <i>Drosophila</i>
NR5A receptors directly control oocyte production. Here, we demonstrate that <i>ftz-f1</i> (NR5A3) is necessary for multiple
aspects of early oocyte development. <i>Ftz-f1</i>
is expressed throughout the ovary, including in germline stem cells (GSCs),
germline cysts, and several populations of somatic cells. <i>Ftz-f1</i> is necessary in GSCs and their dividing daughters for timely
mitotic cyst divisions and accumulation of oocyte-specific proteins in the
presumptive oocyte which dictate oocyte positioning within the cyst. In
parallel, <i>ftz-f1</i> in somatic escort
cells and pre-follicle cells promotes proper cyst division and cyst
encapsulation. Interestingly, our data suggest that <i>ftz-f1</i> promotes escort cell-dependent cyst encapsulation via a
complex genetic interaction with the steroid hormone ecdysone. We propose the
model that Ftz-f1 and ecdysone signaling via the Ecdysone Receptor (NR1H1)
interdependently promote communication between escort cells and germ cells.
Taken together, these results demonstrate that the reproductive functions of
the NR5A sub-family are largely conserved between insects and mammals. Our data
underscore the importance of nuclear receptors in the control of reproduction
and highlight the utility of <i>Drosophila</i>
oogenesis as a key model for unraveling the complexity of nuclear receptor
signaling in gametogenesis. </p>
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