Nuclear export in somatic cyst cells controls cyst cell-germline coordination and germline differentiation in the Drosophila testis

Summary

Nucleocytoplasmic communication is crucial for proper cell function and coordination of intrinsic cues with signaling responses emanating from the neighboring cells and the local tissue microenvironment. In the Drosophila male germline system, germ cells proliferate and progressively differentiate enclosed in supportive somatic cyst cells, forming a small cyst, the functional unit of differentiation. Here we show that the peripheral nucleoporins Nup62, Nup214 and Nup88, and the exportin Emb are critically required in cyst cells to maintain cyst cell survival and germline encapsulation in order to protect cyst cell-germline communication and promote germ cell differentiation. Knockdown of nup62, emb, nup214 or nup88 in cyst cells leads to cell-autonomous defects in mRNA export, and cell non-autonomous overproliferation of early germ cells in the absence of cyst cell-derived differentiation signals. Suppression of apoptosis can reverse cyst cell elimination and partially restored those defects. Interestingly, overexpression of the Drosophila Profilin gene chickadee can rescue cyst cell survival and restore germline encapsulation and differentiation, by counteracting Ntf-2 mediated export, suggesting that the function of Profilin in cyst cells is linked to nuclear export.