title: Matrix metalloproteinase 2 is required for ovulation and corpus luteum formation in Drosophila.
abstract: Ovulation is critical for successful reproduction and correlates with ovarian cancer risk, yet genetic studies of ovulation have been limited. It has long been thought that the mechanism controlling ovulation is highly divergent due to speciation and fast evolution. Using genetic tools available in Drosophila, we now report that ovulation in Drosophila strongly resembles mammalian ovulation at both the cellular and molecular levels. Just one of up to 32 mature follicles per ovary pair loses posterior follicle cells ("trimming") and protrudes into the oviduct, showing that a selection process prefigures ovulation. Follicle cells that remain after egg release form a "corpus luteum (CL)" at the end of the ovariole, develop yellowish pigmentation, and express genes encoding steroid hormone biosynthetic enzymes that are required for full fertility. Finally, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (Mmp2), a type of protease thought to facilitate mammalian ovulation, is expressed in mature follicle and CL cells. Mmp2 activity is genetically required for trimming, ovulation and CL formation. Our studies provide new insights into the regulation of Drosophila ovulation and establish Drosophila as a model for genetically investigating ovulation in diverse organisms, including mammals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology & Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America.
authors.forename: Lylah D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Deady
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology & Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology & Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mosure
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Laboratories, Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
authors.forename: Allan C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Spradling
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology & Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America; Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000254:growth & development*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000254:growth & development; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000254:growth & development; D010060:Ovulation / Q000235:genetics*; D014599:Uterus / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2