Direct Control of Germline Stem Cell Division and... : Science (original) (raw)

Reports: Developmental Biology

Direct Control of Germline Stem Cell Division and Cyst Growth by Neural Insulin in Drosophila

• Leesa LaFever
• Daniela Drummond-Barbosa

Science

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1073

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August 12, 2005

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Stem cells reside in specialized niches that provide signals required for their maintenance and division. Tissue-extrinsic signals can also modify stem cell activity, although this is poorly understood. Here, we report that neural-derived Drosophila insulin-like peptides (DILPs) directly regulate germline stem cell division rate, demonstrating that signals mediating the ovarian response to nutritional input can modify stem cell activity in a niche-independent manner. We also reveal a crucial direct role of DILPs in controlling germline cyst growth and vitellogenesis.