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Sun Z, Nystul TG, Zhong G. Single-cell RNA sequencing identifies eggplant as a regulator of germ cell development in Drosophila. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e56475. [PMID: 37603128 PMCID: PMC10561367 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202256475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Drosophila ovarian germline stem cells (GSCs) are a powerful model for stem cell research. In this study, we use single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), an RNAi screen and bioinformatic analysis, to identify genes involved in germ cell differentiation, including 34 genes with upregulated expression during early germ cell development and 19 genes that may regulate germ cell differentiation. Among these, a gene we have named eggplant (eggpl) is highly expressed in GSCs and downregulated in early daughter cells. RNAi knockdown of eggpl causes germ cell proliferation and differentiation defects. In flies fed a rich yeast diet, the expression of eggpl is significantly lower and knockdown or knockout of eggpl phenocopies a rich diet. In addition, eggpl knockdown suppresses the reduction in germ cell proliferation caused by inhibition of the insulin effector PI3K. These findings suggest that downregulation of eggpl links nutritional status to germ cell proliferation and differentiation. Collectively, this study provides new insights into the signaling networks that regulate early germ cell development and identifies eggpl as a key player in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of EducationSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | | | - Guohua Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of EducationSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
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Cai Q, Yan J, Duan R, Zhu Y, Hua Y, Liao Y, Li Q, Li W, Ji S. E3 ligase Cul2 mediates Drosophila early germ cell differentiation through targeting Bam. Dev Biol 2023; 493:103-108. [PMID: 36423673 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Drosophila ovary has been one of the most mature and excellent systems for studying the in vivo regulatory mechanisms of stem cell fate determination. It has been well-known that the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling released by the niche cells promotes the maintenance of germline stem cells (GSCs) through inhibiting the transcription of the bag-of-marbles (bam) gene, which encodes a key factor for GSC differentiation. However, whether Bam is regulated at the post-translational level remains largely unknown. Here we show that the E3 ligase Cullin-2 (Cul2) is involved in modulating Bam ubiquitination, which occurs probably at multiple lysine residues of Bam's C-terminal region. Genetic evidence further supports the notion that Cul2-mediated Bam ubiquitination and turnover are essential for GSC maintenance and proper germline development. Collectively, our data not only uncovers a novel regulatory mechanism by which Bam is controlled at the post-translational level, but also provides new insights into how Cullin family protein determines the differentiation fate of early germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingshuang Cai
- Centre for Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China
| | - Jing Yan
- Centre for Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China
| | - Renjie Duan
- Centre for Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China
| | - Yangyang Zhu
- Centre for Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China
| | - Yongzhi Hua
- Centre for Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China
| | - Yongrong Liao
- Centre for Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China
| | - Qingyang Li
- Centre for Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China
| | - Weini Li
- Department of Diabetes Complications & Metabolism, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Shanming Ji
- Centre for Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China.
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Finger DS, Whitehead KM, Phipps DN, Ables ET. Nuclear receptors linking physiology and germline stem cells in Drosophila. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2021; 116:327-362. [PMID: 33752824 PMCID: PMC8063499 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2020.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Maternal nutrition and physiology are intimately associated with reproductive success in diverse organisms. Despite decades of study, the molecular mechanisms linking maternal diet to the production and quality of oocytes remain poorly defined. Nuclear receptors (NRs) link nutritional signals to cellular responses and are essential for oocyte development. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is an excellent genetically tractable model to study the relationship between NR signaling and oocyte production. In this review, we explore how NRs in Drosophila regulate the earliest stages of oocyte development. Long-recognized as an essential mediator of developmental transitions, we focus on the intrinsic roles of the Ecdysone Receptor and its ligand, ecdysone, in oogenesis. We also review recent studies suggesting broader roles for NRs as regulators of maternal physiology and their impact specifically on oocyte production. We propose that NRs form the molecular basis of a broad physiological surveillance network linking maternal diet with oocyte production. Given the functional conservation between Drosophila and humans, continued experimental investigation into the molecular mechanisms by which NRs promote oogenesis will likely aid our understanding of human fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle S Finger
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Kaitlin M Whitehead
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Daniel N Phipps
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Elizabeth T Ables
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States.
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Abstract
The discovery of Drosophila stem cells with striking similarities to mammalian stem cells has brought new hope for stem cell research. Recent developments in Drosophila stem cell research is bringing wider opportunities for contemporary stem cell biologists. In this regard, Drosophila germ cells are becoming a popular model of stem cell research. In several cases, genes that controlled Drosophila stem cells were later discovered to have functional homologs in mammalian stem cells. Like mammals, Drosophila germline stem cells (GSCs) are controlled by both intrinsic as well as external signals. Inside the Drosophila testes, germline and somatic stem cells form a cluster of cells (the hub). Hub cells depend on JAK-STAT signaling, and, in absence of this signal, they do not self-renew. In Drosophila, significant changes occur within the stem cell niche that contributes to a decline in stem cell number over time. In case of aging Drosophila, somatic niche cells show reduced DE-cadherin and unpaired (Upd) proteins. Unpaired proteins are known to directly decrease stem cell number within the niches, and, overexpression of upd within niche cells restored GSCs in older males also . Stem cells in the midgut of Drosophila are also very promising. Reduced Notch signaling was found to increase the number of midgut progenitor cells. On the other hand, activation of the Notch pathway decreased proliferation of these cells. Further research in this area should lead to the discovery of additional factors that regulate stem and progenitor cells in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyanesh Singh
- School of Biotechnology and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
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Abstract
The discovery of
Drosophila stem cells with striking similarities to mammalian stem cells has brought new hope for stem cell research. Recent developments in
Drosophila stem cell research is bringing wider opportunities for contemporary stem cell biologists. In this regard,
Drosophila germ cells are becoming a popular model of stem cell research. In several cases, genes that controlled
Drosophila stem cells were later discovered to have functional homologs in mammalian stem cells. Like mammals,
Drosophila germline stem cells (GSCs) are controlled by both intrinsic as well as external signals. Inside the
Drosophila testes, germline and somatic stem cells form a cluster of cells (the hub). Hub cells depend on JAK-STAT signaling, and, in absence of this signal, they do not self-renew. In
Drosophila, significant changes occur within the stem cell niche that contributes to a decline in stem cell number over time. In case of aging
Drosophila, somatic niche cells show reduced DE-cadherin and unpaired (Upd) proteins. Unpaired proteins are known to directly decrease stem cell number within the niches, and, overexpression of
upd within niche cells restored GSCs in older males also . Stem cells in the midgut of
Drosophila are also very promising. Reduced Notch signaling was found to increase the number of midgut progenitor cells. On the other hand, activation of the Notch pathway decreased proliferation of these cells. Further research in this area should lead to the discovery of additional factors that regulate stem and progenitor cells in
Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyanesh Singh
- School of Biotechnology and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
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