title: GAL4 enhancer traps that can be used to drive gene expression in developing Drosophila spermatocytes.
abstract: The Drosophila testis has proven to be a valuable model organ for investigation of germline stem cell (GSC) maintenance and differentiation as well as elucidation of the genetic programs that regulate differentiation of daughter spermatogonia. Development of germ cell specific GAL4 driver transgenes has facilitated investigation of gene function in GSCs and spermatogonia but specific GAL4 tools are not available for analysis of postmitotic spermatogonial differentiation into spermatocytes. We have screened publically available pGT1 strains, a GAL4-encoding gene trap collection, to identify lines that can drive gene expression in late spermatogonia and early spermatocytes. While we were unable to identify any germline-specific drivers, we did identify an insertion in the chiffon locus, which drove expression specifically in early spermatocytes within the germline along with the somatic cyst cells of the testis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bunt
authors.forename: Adrian C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Monk
authors.forename: Nicole A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Siddall
authors.forename: Neisha L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Hime
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D018390:Gene Targeting; D008297:Male; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004527:Egg Proteins; C557617:GAL4 protein, Drosophila; D014157:Transcription Factors; C121887:chif protein, Drosophila