Active JNK-dependent secretion of Drosophila Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase by loser cells recruits haemocytes during cell competition

Slow-dividing ‘loser’ cells are outcompeted by more robust ‘winner’ cells and eliminated by macrophage-like haemocytes in the fruit fly larva. Here the authors show that the dying loser cells secrete the enzyme Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase that upon Mmp2-mediated cleavage acts as a haemocyte chemoattractant.