Abstract
Stem cells cycle between periods of quiescence and proliferation to promote tissue health. In Drosophila ovaries, quiescence to proliferation transitions of follicle stem cells (FSCs) are exquisitely feeding-dependent. Here, we demonstrate feeding-dependent induction of follicle cell differentiation markers, eyes absent (Eya) and castor (Cas) in FSCs, a patterning process that does not depend on proliferation induction. Instead, FSCs extend micron-scale cytoplasmic projections that dictate Eya-Cas patterning. We identify still life and sickie as necessary and sufficient for FSC projection growth and Eya-Cas induction. Our results suggest that sequential, interdependent events establish long-term differentiation patterns in follicle cell precursors, independently of FSC proliferation induction.