Notch Signaling and the Generation of Cell Diversity in Drosophila Neuroblast Lineages

Notch Signaling in Insect Development: A Simple Pathway with Diverse Functions

Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway which functions between adjacent cells to establish their distinct identities. Despite operating in a simple mechanism, Notch signaling plays remarkably diverse roles in development to regulate cell fate determination, organ growth and tissue patterning. While initially discovered and characterized in the model insect Drosophila melanogaster, recent studies across various insect species have revealed the broad involvement of Notch signaling in shaping insect tissues. This review focuses on providing a comprehensive picture regarding the roles of the Notch pathway in insect development. The roles of Notch in the formation and patterning of the insect embryo, wing, leg, ovary and several specific structures, as well as in physiological responses, are summarized. These results are discussed within the developmental context, aiming to deepen our understanding of the diversified functions of the Notch signaling pathway in different insect species.

Integrated Patterning Programs During Drosophila Development Generate the Diversity of Neurons and Control Their Mature Properties

During the approximately 5 days of Drosophila neurogenesis (late embryogenesis to the beginning of pupation), a limited number of neural stem cells produce approximately 200,000 neurons comprising hundreds of cell types. To build a functional nervous system, neuronal types need to be produced in the proper places, appropriate numbers, and correct times. We discuss how neural stem cells (neuroblasts) obtain so-called area codes for their positions in the nervous system (spatial patterning) and how they keep time to sequentially produce neurons with unique fates (temporal patterning). We focus on specific examples that demonstrate how a relatively simple patterning system (Notch) can be used reiteratively to generate different neuronal types. We also speculate on how different modes of temporal patterning that operate over short versus long time periods might be linked. We end by discussing how specification programs are integrated and lead to the terminal features of different neuronal types.

Notch Target Gene E(spl)mδ Is a Mediator of Methylmercury-Induced Myotoxicity in Drosophila

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant and neurotoxicant that has long been known to cause a variety of motor deficits. These motor deficits have primarily been attributed to MeHg targeting of developing neurons and induction of oxidative stress and calcium dysregulation. Few studies have looked at how MeHg may be affecting fundamental signaling mechanisms in development, particularly in developing muscle. Studies in Drosophila recently revealed that MeHg perturbs embryonic muscle formation and upregulates Notch target genes, reflected predominantly by expression of the downstream transcriptional repressor Enhancer of Split mdelta [E(spl)mδ]. An E(spl)mδ reporter gene shows expression primarily in the myogenic domain, and both MeHg exposure and genetic upregulation of E(spl)mδ can disrupt embryonic muscle development. Here, we tested the hypothesis that developing muscle is targeted by MeHg via upregulation of E(spl)mδ using genetic modulation of E(spl)mδ expression in combination with MeHg exposure in developing flies. Developmental MeHg exposure causes a decreased rate of eclosion that parallels gross disruption of indirect flight muscle (IFM) development. An increase in E(spl) expression across the pupal stages, with preferential E(spl)mδ upregulation occurring at early (p5) stages, is also observed. E(spl)mδ overexpression in myogenic lineages under the Mef2 promoter was seen to phenocopy eclosion and IFM effects of developmental MeHg exposure; whereas reduced expression of E(spl)mδ shows rescue of eclosion and IFM morphology effects of MeHg exposure. No effects were seen on eclosion with E(spl)mδ overexpression in neural and gut tissues. Our data indicate that muscle development is a target for MeHg and that E(spl)mδ is a muscle-specific mediator of this myotoxicity. This research advances our knowledge of the target pathways that mediate susceptibility to MeHg toxicity, as well as a potential muscle development-specific role for E(spl)mδ.

Integration of Drosophila and Human Genetics to Understand Notch Signaling Related Diseases

Notch signaling research dates back to more than one hundred years, beginning with the identification of the Notch mutant in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Since then, research on Notch and related genes in flies has laid the foundation of what we now know as the Notch signaling pathway. In the 1990s, basic biological and biochemical studies of Notch signaling components in mammalian systems, as well as identification of rare mutations in Notch signaling pathway genes in human patients with rare Mendelian diseases or cancer, increased the significance of this pathway in human biology and medicine. In the 21st century, Drosophila and other genetic model organisms continue to play a leading role in understanding basic Notch biology. Furthermore, these model organisms can be used in a translational manner to study underlying mechanisms of Notch-related human diseases and to investigate the function of novel disease associated genes and variants. In this chapter, we first briefly review the major contributions of Drosophila to Notch signaling research, discussing the similarities and differences between the fly and human pathways. Next, we introduce several biological contexts in Drosophila in which Notch signaling has been extensively characterized. Finally, we discuss a number of genetic diseases caused by mutations in genes in the Notch signaling pathway in humans and we expand on how Drosophila can be used to study rare genetic variants associated with these and novel disorders. By combining modern genomics and state-of-the art technologies, Drosophila research is continuing to reveal exciting biology that sheds light onto mechanisms of disease.

EC-tagging allows cell type-specific RNA analysis

Purification of cell type-specific RNAs remains a significant challenge. One solution involves biosynthetic tagging of target RNAs. RNA tagging via incorporation of 4-thiouracil (TU) in cells expressing transgenic uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRT), a method known as TU-tagging, has been used in multiple systems but can have limited specificity due to endogenous pathways of TU incorporation. Here, we describe an alternative method that requires the activity of two enzymes: cytosine deaminase (CD) and UPRT. We found that the sequential activity of these enzymes converts 5-ethynylcytosine (EC) to 5-ethynyluridine monophosphate that is subsequently incorporated into nascent RNAs. The ethynyl group allows efficient detection and purification of tagged RNAs. We show that ‘EC-tagging’ occurs in tissue culture cells and Drosophila engineered to express CD and UPRT. Additional control can be achieved through a split-CD approach in which functional CD is reconstituted from independently expressed fragments. We demonstrate the sensitivity and specificity of EC-tagging by obtaining cell type-specific gene expression data from intact Drosophila larvae, including transcriptome measurements from a small population of central brain neurons. EC-tagging provides several advantages over existing techniques and should be broadly useful for investigating the role of differential RNA expression in cell identity, physiology and pathology.

The cellular and molecular basis of cnidarian neurogenesis

Neurogenesis initiates during early development and it continues through later developmental stages and in adult animals to enable expansion, remodeling, and homeostasis of the nervous system. The generation of nerve cells has been analyzed in detail in few bilaterian model organisms, leaving open many questions about the evolution of this process. As the sister group to bilaterians, cnidarians occupy an informative phylogenetic position to address the early evolution of cellular and molecular aspects of neurogenesis and to understand common principles of neural development. Here we review studies in several cnidarian model systems that have revealed significant similarities and interesting differences compared to neurogenesis in bilaterian species, and between different cnidarian taxa. Cnidarian neurogenesis is currently best understood in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, where it includes epithelial neural progenitor cells that express transcription factors of the soxB and atonal families. Notch signaling regulates the number of these neural progenitor cells, achaete‐scute and dmrt genes are required for their further development and Wnt and BMP signaling appear to be involved in the patterning of the nervous system. In contrast to many vertebrates and Drosophila, cnidarians have a high capacity to generate neurons throughout their lifetime and during regeneration. Utilizing this feature of cnidarian biology will likely allow gaining new insights into the similarities and differences of embryonic and regenerative neurogenesis. The use of different cnidarian model systems and their expanding experimental toolkits will thus continue to provide a better understanding of evolutionary and developmental aspects of nervous system formation. WIREs Dev Biol 2017, 6:e257. doi: 10.1002/wdev.257

This article is categorized under: 1

Gene Expression and Transcriptional Hierarchies > Cellular Differentiation

2

Signaling Pathways > Cell Fate Signaling

3

Comparative Development and Evolution > Organ System Comparisons Between Species

Homeotic Transformations of Neuronal Cell Identities

Homeosis is classically defined as the transformation of one body part into something that resembles another body part. We propose here to broaden the concept of homeosis to the many neuronal cell identity transformations that have been uncovered over the past few years upon removal of specific regulatory factors in organisms from Caenorhabditis elegans to Drosophila, zebrafish, and mice. The concept of homeosis provides a framework for the evolution of cell type diversity in the brain.

Iterative Role of Notch Signaling in Spinal Motor Neuron Diversification

The motor neuron progenitor domain in the ventral spinal cord gives rise to multiple subtypes of motor neurons and glial cells. Here, we examine whether progenitors found in this domain are multipotent and which signals contribute to their cell-type-specific differentiation. Using an in vitro neural differentiation model, we demonstrate that motor neuron progenitor differentiation is iteratively controlled by Notch signaling. First, Notch controls the timing of motor neuron genesis by repressing Neurogenin 2 (Ngn2) and maintaining Olig2-positive progenitors in a proliferative state. Second, in an Ngn2-independent manner, Notch contributes to the specification of median versus hypaxial motor column identity and lateral versus medial divisional identity of limb-innervating motor neurons. Thus, motor neuron progenitors are multipotent, and their diversification is controlled by Notch signaling that iteratively increases cellular diversity arising from a single neural progenitor domain.

From the Eye to the Brain: Development of the Drosophila Visual System

How stem cells produce the huge diversity of neurons that form the visual system, and how these cells are assembled in neural circuits are a critical question in developmental neurobiology. Investigations in Drosophila have led to the discovery of several basic principles of neural patterning. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the field by describing the development of the Drosophila visual system, from the embryo to the adult and from the gross anatomy to the cellular level. We then explore the general molecular mechanisms identified that might apply to other neural structures in flies or in vertebrates. Finally, we discuss the major challenges that remain to be addressed in the field.

Drosophila neuroblasts as a new model for the study of stem cell self-renewal and tumour formation

Drosophila larval brain stem cells (neuroblasts) have emerged as an important model for the study of stem cell asymmetric division and the mechanisms underlying the transformation of neural stem cells into tumour-forming cancer stem cells. Each Drosophila neuroblast divides asymmetrically to produce a larger daughter cell that retains neuroblast identity, and a smaller daughter cell that is committed to undergo differentiation. Neuroblast self-renewal and differentiation are tightly controlled by a set of intrinsic factors that regulate ACD (asymmetric cell division). Any disruption of these two processes may deleteriously affect the delicate balance between neuroblast self-renewal and progenitor cell fate specification and differentiation, causing neuroblast overgrowth and ultimately lead to tumour formation in the fly. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms underlying Drosophila neural stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. Furthermore, we highlight emerging evidence in support of the notion that defects in ACD in mammalian systems, which may play significant roles in the series of pathogenic events leading to the development of brain cancers.

Differential gene expression in nuclear label-retaining cells in the developing mouse mammary gland

The immortal strand theory postulates stem cells protect themselves from DNA replication-associated mutations and subsequent cancer risk through selective segregation of template DNA strands. Stem cells self-renew by asymmetric cellular division. During asymmetric division, stem cells maintain their template DNA strands, while the newly synthesized DNA strands segregate to newly formed daughter cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that self-renewing mammary stem cells originate in the expanding mammary ducts during puberty-associated allometric growth. In this study, we labeled newly forming mammary stem cells with the thymidine analog 5-ethynl-2'-deoxyuridine for 2 weeks during allometric ductal expansion. Cells that incorporate and retain the nuclear label following extended chase periods are termed label-retaining cells (LRCs). A second nuclear label, 5-bromodeoxyuridine, was administered before euthanasia to identify cells traversing the cell cycle. Mammary cells collected following euthanasia were sorted based on nuclear label retention. Members of the Notch and Wnt signaling pathways were found differentially expressed by mammary LRCs. These pathways are involved in the regulation of stem cells in the mouse mammary gland. Upon further analysis, we found that in contrast to non-LRCs, Notch1 and Notch2 are expressed and localized in the nuclei of the LRCs. Expression of Notch-inducible genes, Hes1 and Hey2, was elevated in LRCs. Inhibition of Notch1 by shRNA reduced colony forming potential and label retention by mammary epithelial cells in vitro. These results indicate that genes are differentially regulated in the LRC population of mammary glands and Notch1 mediates asymmetric cell division of mammary progenitor cells.

Is the amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease therapeutically relevant?

The conventional view of AD (Alzheimer's disease) is that much of the pathology is driven by an increased load of β-amyloid in the brain of AD patients (the 'Amyloid Hypothesis'). Yet, many therapeutic strategies based on lowering β-amyloid have so far failed in clinical trials. This failure of β-amyloid-lowering agents has caused many to question the Amyloid Hypothesis itself. However, AD is likely to be a complex disease driven by multiple factors. In addition, it is increasingly clear that β-amyloid processing involves many enzymes and signalling pathways that play a role in a diverse array of cellular processes. Thus the clinical failure of β-amyloid-lowering agents does not mean that the hypothesis itself is incorrect; it may simply mean that manipulating β-amyloid directly is an unrealistic strategy for therapeutic intervention, given the complex role of β-amyloid in neuronal physiology. Another possible problem may be that toxic β-amyloid levels have already caused irreversible damage to downstream cellular pathways by the time dementia sets in. We argue in the present review that a more direct (and possibly simpler) approach to AD therapeutics is to rescue synaptic dysfunction directly, by focusing on the mechanisms by which elevated levels of β-amyloid disrupt synaptic physiology.

Asymmetric cell division and Notch signaling specify dopaminergic neurons in Drosophila

In Drosophila, dopaminergic (DA) neurons can be found from mid embryonic stages of development till adulthood. Despite their functional involvement in learning and memory, not much is known about the developmental as well as molecular mechanisms involved in the events of DA neuronal specification, differentiation and maturation. In this report we demonstrate that most larval DA neurons are generated during embryonic development. Furthermore, we show that loss of function (l-o-f) mutations of genes of the apical complex proteins in the asymmetric cell division (ACD) machinery, such as inscuteable and bazooka result in supernumerary DA neurons, whereas l-o-f mutations of genes of the basal complex proteins such as numb result in loss or reduction of DA neurons. In addition, when Notch signaling is reduced or abolished, additional DA neurons are formed and conversely, when Notch signaling is activated, less DA neurons are generated. Our data demonstrate that both ACD and Notch signaling are crucial mechanisms for DA neuronal specification. We propose a model in which ACD results in differential Notch activation in direct siblings and in this context Notch acts as a repressor for DA neuronal specification in the sibling that receives active Notch signaling. Our study provides the first link of ACD and Notch signaling in the specification of a neurotransmitter phenotype in Drosophila. Given the high degree of conservation between Drosophila and vertebrate systems, this study could be of significance to mechanisms of DA neuronal differentiation not limited to flies.