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CTP synthase (CTPsyn) is a metabolic enzyme responsible for the de novo synthesis of the nucleotide CTP. Several recent studies have shown that CTPsyn forms filamentous subcellular structures known as cytoophidia in bacteria, yeast, fruit flies and humans. However, it remains elusive whether and how CTPsyn and cytoophidia play a role during development. Here, we show that cytoophidia are abundant in the neuroepithelial stem cells in Drosophila optic lobes. Optic lobes are underdeveloped in CTPsyn mutants as well as in CTPsyn RNAi. Moreover, overexpressing CTPsyn impairs the development of optic lobes, specifically by blocking the transition from neuroepithelium to neuroblast. Taken together, our results indicate that CTPsyn is critical for optic lobe homeostasis in Drosophila.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.jgg.2015.04.006

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Genet Genomics

Publication Date

20/05/2015

Volume

42

Pages

261 - 274

Keywords

CTP synthase, Central nervous system, Cytoophidium, Drosophila, Neuroepithelial stem cell, Animals, Brain, Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases, Drosophila melanogaster, Homeostasis, Larva, Mutation, Neural Stem Cells, Neuroepithelial Cells, Neuroglia, Optic Lobe, Nonmammalian