CCBScope Observatory: Cytoskeletal Mechanics of Germline Bridges

Intercellular bridges (ICBs) are conserved ring-like structures that maintain cytoplasmic continuity between sister cells and are hallmark features of germline cysts—the precursors of oocytes and sperm—across the animal kingdom.

In the Drosophila melanogaster 16-cell cyst, 15 ICBs link nurse cells to each other and to the oocyte, mediating directional cytoplasmic transport. ICB function relies on a robust cytoskeletal architecture that stabilizes them within the expanding membrane and facilitates transport as the cyst increases its volume nearly ~1,000×. Our work investigates how these bridges assemble, how their structure is maintained, and how they support oogenesis.

See examples of previous works in Biophysical Journal, Nature Physics, and PNAS.