The <i>Drosophila</i> fusome, a germline-specific organelle, contains membrane skeletal proteins and functions in cyst formation

TLDR

Oogenesis in Drosophila occurs within germline cysts connected by ring canals, and the fusome—a large cytoplasmic structure spanning cystocytes—has been proposed to aid ring canal formation and determine nurse cell‑oocyte connectivity. The study aimed to identify fusome components and their associations with cystocyte centrosomes. The authors identified the adducin‑like hts product and α‑spectrin as fusome components, discovered a related structure in germline stem cells, and documented regular associations between fusomes and cystocyte centrosomes. hts mutations eliminated fusomes, producing cysts with fewer cells, showing that fusomes are required for ovarian cyst formation and that membrane skeletal proteins regulate cystocyte divisions.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Oogenesis in Drosophila takes place within germline cysts that support polarized transport through ring canals inter-connecting their 15 nurse cells and single oocyte. Developing cystocytes are spanned by a large cytoplasmic structure known as the fusome that has been postulated to help form ring canals and determine the pattern of nurse cell-oocyte interconnections. We identified the adducin-like hts product and α-spectrin as molecular components of fusomes, discovered a related structure in germline stem cells and documented regular associations between fusomes and cystocyte centrosomes. hts mutations completely eliminated fusomes, causing abnormal cysts containing a reduced number of cells to form. Our results imply that Drosophila fusomes are required for ovarian cyst formation and suggest that membrane skeletal proteins regulate cystocyte divisions.