Malpe, M. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2020

The impact of genetic background and gender on the increase in mitotic index in response to mating of Drosophila melanogaster

The replenishment of specialized cells depends on the activity of stem cells. Recent advances in stem cell research have shown that the germline stem cells (GSCs) in Drosophila melanogaster can increase their mitotic activity in response to mating. Here, we show that this ability to respond to mating is eliminated if the males are mutant for the ABC transporter, White, the genetic background for a plethora of fly lines. Furthermore, we were not able to reproduce previous findings that female flies increase their GSC numbers and mitotic activity upon mating. Our findings underline the importance of careful experimental design and control specimen.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2018

G-Protein signaling increases germline stem cell activity in Drosophila males in response to multiple rounds of mating

Adult stem cells divide to renew the stem cell pool and replenish specialized cells that are lost due to death or usage. However, little is known about the mechanisms regulating how stem cells adjust to a demand for specialized cells. A failure of the stem cells to respond to this demand can have serious consequences, such as tissue loss, or prolonged recovery post injury. Here, we challenge the male germline stem cells (GSCs) of Drosophila melanogaster for the production of specialized cells using mating experiments. We show that repeated mating reduced the sperm pool and accelerated germline stem cell (GSC) divisions. The increase in GSC divisions depended on the activity of the highly conserved G-proteins. Germline expression of RNA-Interference (RNA-i) constructs against G-proteins or a dominant negative G-protein eliminated the increase in GSC divisions in mated males. Consistent with a role for the G-proteins in the regulation of GSC divisions, RNA-i against seven out of 35 G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) within the germline cells also eliminated the capability of males to accelerate their GSC divisions in response to mating. Our data show that GSCs are receptive to GPCR stimulus, potentially through a network of interactions among multiple signaling pathways.

developmental biology↗