Germ Cells
The The stem cell derived germ cells of Drosophila melanogaster progress through a number of highly regulated developmental stages on their way to develop into functional gametes. The transitions between these developmental stages occur in coordination with particular cell cycle transitions and involve the reorganization of membrane compartments and of cytoskeletal structures.
Although there are tremendous reorganizations of membrane compartments observed during the earliest stages of egg chamber formation, the function of membrane trafficking in the development of the forming egg chamber is poorly understood. Using both, classical genetics and modern confocal microscopy, the function of COPI vesicle trafficking is analyzed in germ cells developing from stem cells into differentiating germline cysts.
For more information, contact Nicole Grieder.
