Mechanisms of programmed cell death during oogenesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila virilis</Emphasis> |
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Authors: | Athanassios D Velentzas Ioannis P Nezis Dimitrios J Stravopodis Issidora S Papassideri Lukas H Margaritis |
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Institution: | (1) Faculty of Biology, Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis 15784, Athens, Greece |
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Abstract: | We describe the features of programmed cell death occurring in the egg chambers of Drosophila virilis during mid-oogenesis and late oogenesis. During mid-oogenesis, the spontaneously degenerating egg chambers exhibit typical
characteristics of apoptotic cell death. As revealed by propidium iodide, rhodamine-conjugated phalloidin staining, and the
TUNEL assay, respectively, the nurse cells contain condensed chromatin, altered actin cytoskeleton, and fragmented DNA. In
vitro caspase activity assays and immunostaining procedures demonstrate that the atretic egg chambers possess high levels
of caspase activity. Features of autophagic cell death are also observed during D. virilis mid-oogenesis, as shown by monodansylcadaverine staining, together with an ultrastructural examination by transmission electron
microscopy. During the late stages of oogenesis in D. virilis, once again, the two mechanisms, viz., nurse cell cluster apoptosis and autophagy, operate together, manifesting features
of cell death similar to those detailed above. Moreover, an altered form of cytochrome c seems to be released from the mitochondria
in the nurse cells proximal to the oocyte. We propose that apoptosis and autophagy function synergistically during oogenesis
in D. virilis in order to achieve a more efficient elimination of the degenerated nurse cells and abnormal egg chambers.
The present study was co-financed within Op. Education by the European Social Fund and by National Resources via a grant (HRAKLEITOS
70/3/7164) to Professor L.H. Margaritis. |
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Keywords: | Apoptosis Autophagy Nurse cells Programmed cell death Drosophila virilis (Insecta) |
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