Affiliations: 1) Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA; 2) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; 3) Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA; 4) Flatiron Institute, New York, NY, USA
Keywords: a. spermatogenesis; l. computational algorithms
The process of rapidly and properly producing germ cells is essential for life. In Drosophila melanogaster females, germline clusters of 16 cells are formed as the result of four maximally-branched, synchronous divisions from a single germline stem cell. This same pattern of divisions has also been thought to govern Drosophila spermatogenesis, where cells in the cyst additionally undergo a round of meiosis to produce 64 identical spermatids. Here, using 3D reconstructions of sturctural elements in developing male germline clusters, we provide evidence to suggest that maximal branching can be lost at the fourth division. We additionally show that the fusome, which allows for intercellular communication and transport within the cyst, is fragmented more frequently in the male germline, suggesting it plays a less vital role than in oogenesis. Overall, this work establishes an important distinction between male and female germline development and introduces future areas of research to investigate the mechanisms governing gametogenesis across species.