Connecting Hippo pathway and cytoophidia in Drosophila posterior follicle cells

Abstract

CTP synthase (CTPS), the rate-limiting enzyme in de novo synthesis of CTP, assembles into filamentous structures termed cytoophidia. Here we study the impact of Hippo pathway on the posterior follicle cells (PFCs) in Drosophila egg chambers. We find that the inactivation of Hippo pathway correlates with a reduction in cytoophidium length and number within PFCs. During the overexpression of CTPS, the presence of Hippo mutations also reduces the length of cytoophidia in PFCs. In addition, we observe that knocking down CTPS mitigates hpo (Hippo)-associated over-proliferation. In summary, our results suggest a connection between the Hippo pathway and the nucleotide biosynthesis enzyme CTPS in PFCs.