# 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.

## Key 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.