# Tau Regulates Endoreplication in Drosophila Malpighian Tubules

## TL;DR

This study shows that Tau, a protein known for its role in neurons, also helps control DNA replication in non-neuronal tissues of fruit flies.

## Contribution

The paper reveals a new role for Tau in regulating endoreplication in Drosophila epithelial cells.

## Key findings

- Loss of Tau increases nuclear size and DNA content in Malpighian tubule cells.
- Similar effects are observed in the polyploid salivary gland tissue.
- Tau restrains endoreplication in non-neuronal epithelia.

## Abstract

Endoreplication drives polyploidy in metabolically active epithelial tissues. Here we show that loss of
Drosophila
Tau increases nuclear size and DAPI fluorescence in principal and stellate cells of the Malpighian tubule, indicative of elevated DNA content. A similar increase is observed in the salivary gland, another polyploid tissue. These findings reveal a previously unrecognized role for Tau in restraining endoreplication in non-neuronal epithelia.