Analysis of mechanisms underlying stem cell fate determination in Drosophila germline

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Stem cells play a central role in maintenance and repair of the adult tissues in many higher organisms. However, it remains largely unknown how stem cells are formed during tissue development. In Drosophila developing ovary (larval ovary), only a subset of primordial germ cells (PGCs) are selected and maintained in an undifferentiated state to become germline stem cells (GSCs), while others start to differentiate towards oogenesis. Here, we found that the subset of PGCs are surrounded by a specific somatic cells which can be defined with a high expression of a immunoglobulin superfamily protein, Patch paste/Dpr17 (Pap), on the cell membrane. We showed that Pap is required for the maintenance of these PGCs in undifferentiated state, ensuring their potential to become GSCs.