Somatic ERK activation during transit amplification is essential for maintaining the synchrony of germline divisions in Drosophila testis.

ABSTRACT: Transit amplification (TA) of progenitor cells maintains tissue homeostasis by balancing proliferation and differentiation. In Drosophila testis, the germline proliferation is tightly regulated by factors present in both the germline and the neighbouring somatic cyst cells (SCCs). Although the exact mechanism is unclear, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation in SCCs has been reported to control spermatogonial divisions within a cyst, through downstream activations of Rac1-dependent pathways. Here, we report that somatic activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (Rolled/ERK) downstream of EGFR is required to synchronize the mitotic divisions and regulate the transition to meiosis. The process operates independently of the Bag-of-marble activity in the germli

SUBMITTER: Gupta S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6070716 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature