Germline Stem Cells Anchored by Adherens Junctions in the Drosophila Ovary Niches

✍ Scribed by Song, X.

• Book ID: 127058858
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 556 KB
• Volume: 296
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0036-8075
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1069871

✦ Synopsis

How stem cells are recruited to and maintained in their niches is crucial to understanding their regulation and use in regenerative medicine. Here, we demonstrate that DE-cadherin–mediated cell adhesion is required for anchoring germline stem cells (GSCs) in their niches in the
Drosophila
ovary. Two major components of this adhesion process, DE-cadherin and Armadillo/β-catenin, accumulate at high levels in the junctions between GSCs and cap cells, one of the niche components. Removal of these proteins from GSCs results in stem cell loss. Furthermore, DE-cadherin is required for recruiting GSCs to their niche. Our study demonstrates that anchorage of GSCs in their niche by DE-cadherin–mediated adhesion is important for stem cell maintenance and function.