Posted: March 2025

We are excited to share that our latest work, titled “Krüppel Regulates Cell Cycle Exit and Limits Adult Neurogenesis of Mushroom Body Neural Progenitors in Drosophila”, is now available as a preprint on bioRxiv!
Read it here

In this study, we identify the conserved transcription factor Krüppel (Kr) as a key regulator that limits the lifespan and neurogenic activity of mushroom body neuroblasts (MBNBs)—neural progenitors that build the Drosophila learning and memory center. By using neuroblast-specific RNAi and genetic mutants, we found that loss of Kr leads to persistent neurogenesis in the adult brain. Interestingly, this function is temporally restricted to the pupal stage and operates independently from its known role in embryonic neurogenesis.

Our data also show that Kr interacts with the RNA-binding protein Imp, and is antagonised by another Kr family protein, Kr-h1, suggesting a lineage-specific transcriptional axis that regulates the developmental shutdown of neurogenesis.

This preprint represents a collaborative effort by Claire, Jane, Susan, Haoer, June, Yusa, and Yuu. The manuscript is currently under review, and we are looking forward to sharing more soon!