Hemocytes are essential for Drosophila melanogaster post-embryonic development, independent of control of the microbiota.

ABSTRACT: Proven roles for hemocytes (blood cells) have expanded beyond the control of infections in Drosophila. Despite this, the crucial role of hemocytes in post-embryonic development has long thought to be limited to control of microorganisms during metamorphosis. This has previously been shown by rescue of adult development in hemocyte-ablation models under germ-free conditions. Here, we show that hemocytes have an essential role in post-embryonic development beyond their ability to control the microbiota. Using a newly generated strong hemocyte-specific driver line for the GAL4/UAS system, we show that specific ablation of hemocytes is early pupal lethal, even under axenic conditions. Genetic rescue experiments prove that this is a hemocyte-specific phenomenon. RNA-seq data suggests that dysre

SUBMITTER: Stephenson HN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9641648 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature