Abstract
We review the properties and uses of cell lines in Drosophila research, emphasizing the variety of lines, the large body of genomic and transcriptional data available for many of the lines, and the variety of ways the lines have been used to provide tools for and insights into the developmental, molecular, and cell biology of Drosophila and mammals.
Highlights
In this paper we describe the range of Drosophila cell lines that are currently available, and the ways in which they are useful for research
Most lines are distributed by the Drosophila Genomics Resource Center (DGRC), whose staff includes the authors of this paper
While Drosophila cell lines have traditionally been made without benefit of the malignant transformation that underlies the establishment of most mammalian cell lines, the Simcox lab has recently shown that the over-expression of specific oncogenes or null mutations in specific tumor-suppressor genes in fly embryos greatly enhances the efficiency of the establishment of new cell lines [33,45]
Summary
In this paper we describe the range of Drosophila cell lines that are currently available, and the ways in which they are useful for research. Most lines are distributed by the Drosophila Genomics Resource Center (DGRC), whose staff includes the authors of this paper. The DGRC website (https://dgrc.cgb.indiana.edu) publishes regularly updated descriptions of each of the lines, along with specific, individualized culture requirements and we will not reproduce that material here. We offer general guidelines and suggestions for the use of the lines. Though dated, perspective, we recommend Echalier’s monograph on Drosophila cell lines [1]
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