Germany: Putzig gene plays a critical role in germline stem cell development and differentiation

Loss of putzig in the germline impedes germ cell development by inducing cell death and new niche like microenvironments

Ludmilla Kober, Mirjam Zimmermann, Michaela Kurz, Melanie Bayer & Anja C. Nagel| Institute of Genetics, University of Hohenheim, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany|2019|Scientific Reports|9:9108 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-45655-5

Germline stem cells (GSC) in adult Drosophila are directly associated with somatic cells, to form the stem cell niche. This intimate contact allows for asymmetric division and is the key to further development as it gives rise to a germline cyst. Several intrinsically acting factors contribute to the balanced homeostasis of germline cell maintenance and differentiation. The study analysed the role of the putzig (pzg) gene in cells of germline origin as it has previously been shown to play an important role in the regulation of growth and proliferation during Drosophila development. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed, using the Mic Magnetic Induction Cycler, based on REST method. REST uses Pairwise Fixed Reallocation Randomization Test for statistical evaluation and takes target efficiency into account. Three different reference genes (dlp, Lamin C and slit) were selected based on their similar expression levels in mutant and control tissue in the somatic cells of the germarium. The study showed that the pzg gene is required in germline cells to sustain the stem cell niche. The results also indicate that loss of pzg in germ cell blocks their differentiation and results in cell death within the germarium. As a result, increased growth signalling activity was observed which provoked a pronounced cell death response. This mechanism may prevent passing flawed genetic information to the next generation as pzg mutants show signs of telomere/genetic instability.

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