The apical region of the adult Drosophila testis harbours a stem cell niche that contains germ stem cells, which differentiate into spermatocytes, and somatic cells, which provide nutrients and regulate the proliferation and differentiation of the germline. During spermatogenesis, somatic cells encapsulate the germline cells, isolating them from the environment by providing a permeability barrier. Disruption of either encapsulation or permeability barrier function has catastrophic effects on spermatogenesis, resulting in sterility. Here, Guy Tanentzapf and co-workers investigate the genetic determinants of soma-germline interactions, specifically during germline encapsulation (p. 268). Using a novel permeability assay, they show that encapsulation and the creation of a permeability barrier are actually two separate processes. Furthermore, disrupting the function of chickadee, the Drosophila ortholog of Profilin, causes altered encapsulation and consequent failure of the permeability barrier formation. Lastly, the authors demonstrate that the permeability barrier, which needs functional junctional proteins, is required to restrict the range of niche-derived BMP signalling. In summary, this work identifies Chic as a key regulator of the two distinct phases of soma-germline interactions during early spermatogenesis.
Chickadee: building a nest for the germline
Chickadee: building a nest for the germline. Development 15 January 2015; 142 (2): e0202. doi:
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