scRNA-seq of HHEX-Dependent Enterocyte Lineage Commitment in the Drosophila Larval Midgut

While HHEX is an established regulator of endodermal organogenesis, its role in intestinal epithelial dynamics remains unexplored. We developed a Drosophila midgut-specific NP1-Gal4 > UAS-HHEX RNAi model to circumvent mammalian system limitations, enabling precise dissection of HHEX function in vivo. Through single-cell transcriptomics, we generated a comprehensive cellular atlas of Drosophila 3rd instar larval midgut, resolving all major lineages including adult midgut progenitors (AMPs), enteroendocrine cells (EEs), and functionally distinct enterocyte (EC) subtypes defined by metabolic genes.