Altering cell size asymmetry in <i>Drosophila</i> neural stem cells creates supernumerary stem cells with limited lineage expansion potential.

ABSTRACT: Asymmetrically dividing invertebrate and vertebrate stem cells can generate unequal sized sibling cells. However, the functional implications of cell size asymmetry (CSA) are underexplored. Here, we use Drosophila neural stem cells (NSCs) to investigate how changes in CSA impact NSC proliferation and cell fate decisions. Using live cell imaging, NSC lineage analysis, and gene expression profiling, we find that altering CSA increases the NSC pool but decreases lineage size and the number of differentiating progeny cells. Modeling CSA in silico with a volume-sensitivity and NSC self-inhibition model can recapitulate these findings. Gene expression profiling further revealed that the NSC growth regulator Imp and the G1-S cell cycle regulator CycE are upregulated in

SUBMITTER: Delgado MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12621761 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature