An RNAi screen for ribosome biogenesis genes required for Drosophila border cell collective migration

TL;DR

This study shows that certain genes involved in making ribosomes are important for a group of cells to move together during fruit fly development.

Contribution

The study identifies seven ribosome biogenesis genes critical for collective cell migration in Drosophila border cells.

Findings

Knockdown of seven ribosome biogenesis genes disrupted border cell migration in Drosophila.

Ribosome biogenesis genes are differentially expressed during early to late migration stages.

These genes play a role in regulating collective cell migration during oogenesis.

Abstract

Ribosome biogenesis is critical for the proper production of proteins in cells and has emerged as a regulator of cell invasion and migration in development and in cancer. The
Drosophila
border cells form a collective that invades and migrates through the surrounding tissue during oogenesis. We previously found that a significant number of ribosome biogenesis genes are differentially expressed from early to late migration stages. Here, we performed a small-scale RNAi screen of a subset of these ribosome genes. Knockdown of seven genes disrupted border cell migration, thus revealing a role for ribosome biogenesis genes in regulating collective cell migration.

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