A fly's eye view of quiescent neural stem cells

The balance between proliferation and quiescence of stem cells is crucial in maintaining tissue homeostasis. Neural stem cells (NSCs) in the brain have the ability to be reactivated from a reversible quiescent state to generate new neurons. However, how NSCs transit between quiescence and reactivation remains largely elusive. Drosophila larval brain NSCs, also known as neuroblasts, have emerged as an excellent in vivo model to study molecular mechanisms underlying NSC quiescence and reactivation. Here, we discuss our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the reactivation of quiescent NSCs in Drosophila. We review the most recent advances on epigenetic regulations and microtubule cytoskeleton in Drosophila quiescent NSCs and their cross-talk with signaling pathways that are required in regulating NSC reactivation.