# Identification of a novel progenitor cell population for tissue homeostasis and regeneration of the Drosophila prostate

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $37,461

## Abstract

Abstract:
The Drosophila melanogaster accessory gland is a functional analog of the mammalian prostate. This tissue is
responsible for making and secreting seminal fluid proteins and other molecules that are critical for successful
reproduction. It has been shown that this tissue grows with age and the main, binucleated, epithelial cell type
contributes to this growth by undergoing a variant cell cycle termed an endocycle. Preliminary data reveals that
the adult accessory gland contains a novel, mitotic progenitor cell population that may also play a key role in
tissue homeostasis and regeneration upon damage. This research plan will establish the tools necessary for
future studies and investigate the dynamics of the accessory gland progenitor cell population with age, mating,
and during regeneration from damage by: (1) using single cell RNA sequencing to establish a progenitor cell
specific transcriptome and progenitor cell specific driver lines, (2) characterizing the cell cycle status and
differentiation ability of these cells with age and mating, and (3) describing the function of these cells in
accessory gland homeostasis and regeneration. The experiments proposed here will allow for additional
technical training in single cell RNA sequencing and analytical training in lineage tracing and cell cycle
regulation of a novel progenitor cell population. Due to it's structural and functional similarities to the
mammalian prostate and the short lifespan of the fruit fly, the Drosophila accessory gland is an effective model
for studying misregulation of prostate tissue homeostasis, fertility issues, and regeneration.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10067701
- **Project number:** 1F31HD103430-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Allison Box
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $37,461
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10067701

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10067701, Identification of a novel progenitor cell population for tissue homeostasis and regeneration of the Drosophila prostate (1F31HD103430-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10067701. Licensed CC0.

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