CIL: 50787, Drosophila melanogaster. In Cell Image Library

We show in this study that brain and intestinal stem cells of Drosophila contain a new type of cytoplasmic protrusion which is enriched in mitochondria and that the mitochondria are probably dependent on microtubules for their distribution. The protrusions form mitochondria-enriched cytoplasmic bridges from the stem cells to their niche that we speculate are important in regulating stem cell quiescence and activation.

本研究表明，果蝇（Drosophila）的脑组织与肠道干细胞中存在一种新型的富含线粒体的细胞质突起，且此类线粒体的分布大概率依赖于微管。该类突起可构建从干细胞至其干细胞巢（niche）的富含线粒体的细胞质桥，我们推测这一结构在调控干细胞的静息与激活过程中具有重要作用。