Drosophila oocyte specification is maintained by the dynamic duo of microtubule polymerase Mini spindles/XMAP215 and dynein.
Wen LuMargot LakonishokVladimir I GelfandPublished in: bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology (2023)
mRNA along microtubules. Translated Msps stimulates microtubule polymerization in the oocyte, further enhancing nurse cell-to-oocyte transport by dynein. This creates a positive feedback loop that transforms a small stochastic difference in microtubule polarity among sister cells into a clear oocyte fate determination. Our findings provide important insights into the mechanisms of oocyte specification and have implications for understanding the development of multicellular organisms.