Drosophila metamorphosis involves hemocyte mediated macroendocytosis and efferocytosis.

ABSTRACT: Drosophila hemocytes are majorly associated with immune responses, but they also undertake several non-immune functions that are crucial during various stages of development. The activity and behaviour of hemocytes are least documented during the metamorphic phase of fly development. Here we describe the activity, form and behaviour of the most abundant type of hemocyte in Drosophila melanogaster, the "plasmatocyte," throughout pupal development. Our study reveals different forms of plasmatocytes laden with varying degrees of histolyzing debris (muscle and fat) which extend beyond the size of the cell itself, highlighting the phagocytic capacity of these plasmatocytes. Interestingly, the engulfment of apoptotic debris by plasmatocytes is an actin-dependent process, and by the end of metamo

SUBMITTER: Ghosh S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7612856 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature