Starve-feed cycles regulate gene expression to control quiescence to proliferation transitions in Drosophila Follicle Stem Cells

Our first step was to endogenously label nascent transcripts induced within FSCs during the 6 hour Q->P transition timecourse using Thiouracil Tagging (TU-Tagging)40, 41. We then purified and sequenced transcripts that were differentially enriched in FSCs and early follicle cells whose expression changed during the 6 hour Q->P transition.

Next, we evaluated expression of prioritized candidate genes in the germarium using the RNA in situ hybridization approach, RNAScope42, pinpointing genes enriched in FSCs, specifically. Finally, we performed functional analysis of genes isolated via our primary and secondary gene expression screens to identify novel regulators of Q->P. We present evidence that feeding-induced, cell autonomous Q->P regulators are found in predictable pathways, including cholesterol trafficking and feeding regulation, and also in unexpected pathways that regulate neuronal and glial signaling.