Abstract |
Abstract (summary): Cap cells, escort cells, and terminal filament (TF) cells form the germline stem cell (GSC) niche in the Drosophila ovary. The transcription factor Traffic Jam (Tj) is expressed in cap and escort cells, but not in TF cells. Tj regulates the formation and number of GSCs by controlling the fate and spatial organization of cap cells. I provide further evidence indicating that Tj is required in cap and escort cells for the establishment/maintenance of GSCs during ovary development. Importantly, my data show that Tj is required to maintain GSCs and facilitate germ cell differentiation after the GSC niche has formed. Together, these data indicate that Tj has an important function in controlling somatic cell arrangement during ovary development and in maintaining GSCs and facilitating germ cell differentiation during the adult stage.
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