Musashi regulates follicle stem cell maintenance and epithelial niche homeostasis in the Drosophila ovary

Abstract

The Musashi (Msi) family of RNA-binding proteins regulate maintenance and differentiation of stem cells in multiple tissues of different species. Here, we use the powerful system of the Drosophila ovary to uncover an intrinsic requirement for Msi in both the maintenance of the follicle stem cell population and regulation of the architecture of the follicle stem cell niche. Further, we demonstrate an associated G2 lag of cycling somatic cells within the niche when Msi function is abrogated. Additionally, we show that Msi interaction with the Wnt pathway influences differentiation of anterior germarial escort cells from cells within the follicle stem cell niche region. This provides further ev..