Project description:TheDrosophilaeye has been an important model to understand principles of differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis and tissue morphogenesis. However, a single cell RNA sequence resource that captures gene expression dynamics from the initiation of differentiation to the specification of different cell types in the larval eye disc is lacking. Here, we report transcriptomic data from 13,000 cells that cover six developmental stages of the larval eye. Our data show cell clusters that correspond to all major cell types present in the eye disc ranging from the initiation of the morphogenetic furrow to the differentiation of each photoreceptor cell type as well as early cone cells. We identify dozens of cell type-specific genes whose function in different aspects of eye development have not been reported. These single cell data will greatly aid research groups studying different aspects of early eye development and will facilitate a deeper understanding of the larval eye as a model system.
Project description:The goal of this study was to examine chromosome topology in Drosophila larval eye and antennal discs by identifying topologically associating domains (TADs) across the genome. TADs were compared between the eye and antennal disc to determine whether they contribute to cell-type-specific homologous pairing and transvection.
Project description:The goal of this study was to examine RNA expression levels in the Drosophila larval eye and antennal discs and determine whether higher levels of transcription were correlated with the ability of transgenes to drive pairing with their homologous endogenous loci between chromosomes. Additionally, RNA expression levels were compared between the eye and antennal discs to determine whether increased insulator protein expression contributed to increased pairing in the eye disc.
Project description:The Drosophila eye is a powerful model system to study the dynamics of cell differentiation, cell state transitions, cell maturation, and pattern formation. However, a high-resolution single cell genomics resource that accurately profiles all major cell types of the larval eye disc and their spatiotemporal relationships is lacking. Here, we report transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility data for all known cell types in the developing eye. Photoreceptors appear as strands of cells that represent dynamic developmental timelines. Photoreceptor subtypes are transcriptionally distinct when they begin to differentiate, but then appear to assume a common transcriptome as they mature. We identify novel cell type maturation genes, enhancers, and potential regulators, as well as genes with distinct R3 or R4 photoreceptor specific expression. Finally, we observe that photoreceptor chromatin accessibility is more permissive than non-neuronal lens-secreting cone cells, which show a more restrictive chromatin profile. These single cell genomics atlases will greatly enhance the power of the Drosophila eye as a model system.
Project description:Drosophila larval ventral nerve cord (VNC) shares many similarities with the spinal cord of vertebrates and has emerged as a major model for understanding the development and function of motor systems. We use high quality single cell RNA sequencing to create a comprehensive atlas of larval VNC cell types. Our atlas provides a high-resolution characterization of larval VNC capturing primary neurons, glia and the functional landscape that coordinates larval behavior. At the same time, this atlas offers unique insights into neurogenesis and into the strategies and signaling networks utilized for generation of the adult VNC.
Project description:Transcriptomes of Drosophila melanogaster eye-antennal imaginal discs at three sequential larval stages: late 2nd instar (72h after egg laying (AEL)), mid 3rd instar (96h AEL) and late 3rd instar (120h AEL).
Project description:PSC overexpression can cause phenotypes specifically in an rbf1 mutant background, likely due to a sensitization to PSC-induced phenotypes. The goal of this study is to understand the interaction between rbf1 hypomorphic mutation and the overexpression of Polycomb group gene Posterior sex combs. We used Drosophila larval eye imaginal discs that were mutant for rbf1 or overexpressing PSC and compared these to control larval eye discs to assess changes in gene expression. We identified a common set of genes that are deregulated when rbf1 is mutated or when PSC is overexpressed. RNA was extracted from eye imaginal discs dissected from third instar Drosophila larvae. Samples were amplified and hybridized to Affymetrix Drosophila Genome 2.0 Array. To better understand the effects of rbf1 mutation and PSC overexpression, we compared the gene expression of rbf1 mutant eye discs and eye discs overexpressing PSC to control eye discs.
Project description:Apoptosis is an important process to eliminate cells from tissue which have incurred irreparable DNA damage. While dE2F1/dDP complexes respond to such damage by transcriptionally activating apoptotic genes, previous data suggests that activation of the previously characterized apoptotic target genes of dE2F1/dDP alone may not be the only gene regulation important for gamma irradiation-induced apoptosis. Here we report that following irradiation in dDP mutant 3rd instar larval eye imaginal discs, many genes important for oxidative phosphorylation are down-regulated, which are not down-regulated following irradiation in wild type eye discs. Biological triplicates of wild type, dDP mutant and de2f1, deleted in the posterior, eye discs were untreated or irradiated with 40Gy of gamma radiation. Total RNA was extracted by Trizol from untreated eye discs and from irradiated eye discs 4h after irradiation. RNA was column purified. PCR amplified RNAs were hybridized on Affymetrix Drosophila Genome 2.0 Array.