Regulation of quiescence in the Drosophila neuroblast

Abstract

Quiescence is a state of the cell cycle in which the cell cycle does not progress. It is a cellular process that is currently poorly understood. This thesis describes processes central in the regulation of quiescence that are known at the time. Quiescence is primarily regulated in the transition between the G1 and S phase of the cell cycle. More recent findings on how quiescence is regulated are described by using a model system. This model system is the Drosophila neuroblast. In the Drosophila neuroblast both intrinsic and extrinsic signals control quiescence. This includes nutrition, growth factors, fate determinants and spatiotemporal determinants. Some mechanisms which are described in this thesis are conserved and may prove to be valuable for understanding quiescence in mammals.