A Drosophila chromatin factor interacts with the Piwi-interacting RNA mechanism in niche cells to regulate germline stem cell self-renewal.

Genetics
Tora K Smulders-SrinivasanHaifan Lin

Abstract

Stem cell research has been focused on niche signaling and epigenetic programming of stem cells. However, epigenetic programming of niche cells remains unexplored. We showed previously that Piwi plays a crucial role in Piwi-interacting RNA-mediated epigenetic regulation and functions in the niche cells to maintain germline stem cells (GSCs) in the Drosophila ovary. To investigate the epigenetic programming of niche cells by Piwi, we screened mutations in the Polycomb and trithorax group genes, and an enhancer of Polycomb and trithorax called corto, for their potential genetic interaction with piwi. corto encodes a chromatin protein. corto mutations restored GSC division in mutants of piwi and fs(1)Yb (Yb), a gene that regulates piwi expression in niche cells to maintain GSCs. Consistent with this, corto appears to be expressed in the niche cells and is not required in the germline. Furthermore, in corto-suppressed Yb mutants, the expression of hedgehog (hh) is restored in niche cells, which is likely responsible for corto suppression of the GSC and somatic stem cell defects of Yb mutants. These results reveal a novel epigenetic mechanism involving Corto and Piwi that defines the fate and signaling function of niche cells in mai...Continue Reading

References

May 1, 1996·Zygote : the Biology of Gametes and Early Embryos·M Zaccai, H D Lipshitz
Mar 15, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·G C LiaoG M Rubin
Mar 20, 2002·The Journal of Experimental Medicine·Hideaki OhtaYoshihiro Takihara
Jul 19, 2002·Nature·Mitinori SaitouM Azim Surani
May 29, 2003·Nucleic Acids Research·Juliette SalvaingFrédérique Peronnet
Dec 24, 2005·Nature·John F FlanaganSepideh Khorasanizadeh
Jan 18, 2006·EMBO Reports·Jeesun KimMark T Bedford
Dec 1, 2006·Nucleic Acids Research·Peng ZhangJianping Ding
Feb 27, 2007·Cell·M Azim SuraniPetra Hajkova
Sep 19, 2007·Genes & Development·Brent Brower-TolandHaifan Lin
Jan 27, 2009·Development·Konrad Hochedlinger, Kathrin Plath
Mar 10, 2009·Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology·H Lin, H Yin

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

May 15, 2012·Biotechnology Journal·Ildiko M L SomorjaiZhong Zhao
Nov 29, 2011·Stem Cell Research & Therapy·Susan Eliazer, Michael Buszczak
Aug 28, 2020·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Shuo ShiHaifan Lin
Nov 9, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Mikhail S KlenovVladimir A Gvozdev
Jul 31, 2021·Briefings in Bioinformatics·Amarinder Singh ThindBruce Ashford

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

CREs: Gene & Cell Therapy

Gene and cell therapy advances have shown promising outcomes for several diseases. The role of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) is crucial in the design of gene therapy vectors. Here is the latest research on CREs in gene and cell therapy.

Cell Signaling & Cancer Epigenetics (Keystone)

Epigenetic changes are present and dysregulated in many cancers, including DNA methylation, non-coding RNA segments and post-translational protein modifications. This feed covers the latest research on signaling and epigenetics in cell growth and cancer.

Adult Stem Cells

Adult stem cells reside in unique niches that provide vital cues for their survival, self-renewal, and differentiation. They hold great promise for use in tissue repair and regeneration as a novel therapeutic strategies. Here is the latest research.