The transcription factor CLAMP is required for embryonic and post-embryonic neurogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster.

Clamp deletion, causes impaired chromosomal separation/asymmetric cell division and promotes precocious neurogenesis at the expense of glial cell formation resulting in severely impaired optic lobe development. mRNA-sequencing of clamp mutant embryos and larvae revealed downregulation in pathways controlling stemness, proliferation, and glial development while stem cell-niche survival pathways are mobilized causing accumulation of brain lipid droplets.

Collectively, our results suggest CLAMP promotes neuronal and glial cell generation and modulates neuroblast proliferation via cell-intrinsic and niche-dependent mechanisms from the embryonic through the larval stages.