Drosophila Germline Stem Cells for In Vitro Analyses of PIWI-Mediated RNAi

The Drosophila piwi gene has multiple functions in soma and germ cells. An in vitro system provides a powerful tool for elucidating PIWI function in each cell type using stable cell lines originating from germline stem cells (GSCs) and ovarian soma of adult ovaries. We have described methods for the maintenance and expansion of GSCs in an established cell line (fGS/OSS) and an in situ hybridization method for analyzing piwi .