Somatic gene repression ensures physical segregation of germline and soma in Drosophila embryos

ABSTRACT: In many animals, primordial germ cells are transiently segregated outside the somatic-cell cluster that forms the embryo's body during early embryogenesis. This physical segregation of the germline from the soma has long been believed to be crucial for germline development, but the mechanisms controlling this segregation and its developmental significance remain unclear. Here, in Drosophila, we show that somatic gene silencing in the germline is essential for maintaining this segregation. Primordial germ cells (pole cells) lacking the Nanos- and Polar granule component (Pgc)-dependent dual repression mechanism misexpress widespread somatic genes. They form abnormal cellular protrusions, invade adjacent somatic epithelium, and intermingle with somatic cells. These mislocalized pole cells ul

SUBMITTER: Miho Asaoka 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-10_1038-S44319-026-00710-X | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other