Title
The germline stem cells of Drosophila melanogaster partition DNA non-randomly
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2009
Publication Title
European Journal of Cell Biology
Volume
88
Issue
7
First Page
397
Last Page
408
Abstract
The Immortal Strand Hypothesis proposes that asymmetrically dividing stem cells cosegregate chromatids to retain ancestral DNA templates. Using both pulse-chase and label retention assays, we show that non-random partitioning of DNA occurs in germline stem cells (GSCs) in the Drosophila ovary as these divide asymmetrically to generate a new GSC and a differentiating cystoblast. This process is disrupted when GSCs are forced to differentiate through the overexpression of Bag of Marbles, a factor that impels the terminal differentiation of cystoblasts. When Decapentaplegic, a ligand which maintains the undifferentiated state of GSCs, is expressed ectopically the non-random partitioning of DNA is similarly disrupted. Our data suggest asymmetric chromatid segregation is coupled to mechanisms specifying cellular differentiation via asymmetric stem cell division.
DOI
10.1016/j.ejcb.2009.03.001
Recommended Citation
Karpowicz, Phillip; Pellikka, Milena; Chea, Evelyn; Godt, Dorothea; Tepass, Ulrich; and van der Kooy, Derek, "The germline stem cells of Drosophila melanogaster partition DNA non-randomly" (2009). European Journal of Cell Biology, 88, 7, 397-408.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/biologypub/891