Cell biology Nurse cell

ribonucleoprotein particles (gfp-imp) in drosophila melanogaster egg chamber, being transported nurse cells oocyte

in respect invertebrates, nurse cells polytenic germline cells contribute development of oocyte, producing multiple nuclei. in fruit flies (drosophila), nurse cells surround developing oocyte , synthesize proteins , rnas deposited in it. nurse cells highly polyploid (up 8000c). dump cytoplasm containing rnas , proteins oocyte via ring canals.

due high metabolic activity, nurse cells experience dna damaging effect of oxidative free radicals produced byproduct of metabolism. damaging effect otherwise befall dna of egg cells if responsible own synthesis. many genome copies in each nurse cell may provide redundancy of genetic information allow nurse cell carry out provisioning function in face of considerable oxidative dna damage.