Cytoophidia safeguard binucleation of Drosophila male accessory gland cells

Although most cells are mononuclear, the nucleus can exist in the form of binucleate or even multinucleate to respond to different physiological processes. The male accessory gland of Drosophila is the organ that produces semen, and its main cells are binucleate. Here we observe that CTP synthase (CTPS) forms filamentous cytoo-phidia in binuclear main cells, primarily located at the cell boundary. In CTPSH355A, a point mutation that de-stroys the formation of cytoophidia, we find that the nucleation mode of the main cells changes, including mononucleates and vertical distribution of binucleates. Although the overexpression of CTPSH355A can restore the level of CTPS protein, it will neither form cytoophidia nor eliminate the abnormal nucleation pattern. Therefore, our data indicate that there is an unexpected functional link between the formation of cytoophidia and the maintenance of binucleation in Drosophila main cells.

Automated summary

Although most cells are mononuclear, the nucleus can exist in the form of binucleate or even multinucleate. The male accessory gland of Drosophila is binucleate and CTP synthase (CTPS) forms filamentous cytoophidia in these cells. A point mutation that destroys the formation of cytoophidia changes the nucleation mode of the main cells in Drosophila, indicating a functional link between cytoophidia formation and the maintenance of binucleation.