Reference Report

Reference
Citation	Tazuke, S.I., Schulz, C., Gilboa, L., Fogarty, M., Mahowald, A.P., Guichet, A., Ephrussi, A., Wood, C.G., Lehmann, R., Fuller, M.T. (2002). A germline-specific gap junction protein required for survival of differentiating early germ cells. Development 129(10): 2529--2539.
FlyBase ID	FBrf0146994
Type of publication	Research paper
Offprint Available	Yes
External Crossreferences
PubMed ID	11973283
PubMed Abstract	Germ cells require intimate associations and signals from the surrounding somatic cells throughout gametogenesis. The zero population growth (zpg) locus of Drosophila encodes a germline-specific gap junction protein, Innexin 4, that is required for survival of differentiating early germ cells during gametogenesis in both sexes. Animals with a null mutation in zpg are viable but sterile and have tiny gonads. Adult zpg-null gonads contain small numbers of early germ cells, resembling stem cells or early spermatogonia or oogonia, but lack later stages of germ cell differentiation. In the male, Zpg protein localizes to the surface of spermatogonia, primarily on the sides adjacent to the somatic cyst cells. In the female, Zpg protein localizes to germ cell surfaces, both those adjacent to surrounding somatic cells and those adjacent to other germ cells. We propose that Zpg-containing gap junctional hemichannels in the germ cell plasma membrane may connect with hemichannels made of other innexin isoforms on adjacent somatic cells. Gap junctional intercellular communication via these channels may mediate passage of crucial small molecules or signals between germline and somatic support cells required for survival and differentiation of early germ cells in both sexes.
Biosis	2002.497452
Zoological record
Associated Information
Comments
Text of personal communication
Associated files
Related Publications

Also Published As

Other Reference Information
Secondary IDs
Language of publication	English
Additional language(s) of abstract
ISBN
Place of publication
Published In
Abbreviation	Development
Title	Development
Authors
Volume range	99-
Year range	1987-
Page range
Publisher
Place of publication	Cambridge
Language of publication	English
ISBN/ISSN	0950-1991
CODEN	DEVPED
Data from Reference
Aberrations (3)
	Df(3L)CH12 Df(3L)CH20 Df(3L)ZN47
Alleles (17)
	Avic\GFP^Scer\UAS CG8368^t6.15 CG8368^zpg3-ex CG8368^zpg3 Scer\GAL4^ptc-559.1 w^+mC zpg^+t6.15 zpg¹ zpg² zpg^3-ex zpg³ zpg^z-0918 zpg^z-2533 zpg^z-2552 zpg^z-2679 zpg^z-3860 zpg^z-5352
Constructs (2)
	P{UAS-GFP.U} P{zpg^+t6.15}
Genes (18)
	Avic\GFP CG8368 Fas3 Scer\GAL4 inx2 inx3 inx5 inx6 inx7 ndl ogre ru shakB shg vas w zpg α-Spec
Insertions (2)
	P{GawB}ptc^559.1 P{lacW}zpg³
Polypeptides (1)
	zpg-XP
Transcripts (2)
	zpg-XR zpg⁺R1.6