The basement membrane (BM) is a specialized extracellular matrix that provides crucial structural support to tissues and organs. Mutations in BM genes can affect this structural support and are often associated with human diseases, including fibrosis, diabetes, and cancer, and are considered a hallmark of aging. However, how the BM maintains this support in organs with constant mechanical stress is largely unknown. In the Drosophila ovary, the BM provides the mechanical cues that are required for egg development. We discovered that the glycoprotein Ndg is important for maintaining organ integrity during egg production. Loss of Ndg results in a reduced number of progeny due to unfertilized eggs. Furthermore, we observed a decreased number of developing eggs and a premature death of egg chambers during development. Our results suggest that Ndg plays an important role in fertility.
Keywords: basement membrane; collagen; egg chamber; fertility; muscle sheet; ovary.