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Amran A, Pigatto L, Farley J, Godini R, Pocock R, Gopal S. The matrisome landscape controlling in vivo germ cell fates. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4200. [PMID: 38760342 PMCID: PMC11101451 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48283-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The developmental fate of cells is regulated by intrinsic factors and the extracellular environment. The extracellular matrix (matrisome) delivers chemical and mechanical cues that can modify cellular development. However, comprehensive understanding of how matrisome factors control cells in vivo is lacking. Here we show that specific matrisome factors act individually and collectively to control germ cell development. Surveying development of undifferentiated germline stem cells through to mature oocytes in the Caenorhabditis elegans germ line enabled holistic functional analysis of 443 conserved matrisome-coding genes. Using high-content imaging, 3D reconstruction, and cell behavior analysis, we identify 321 matrisome genes that impact germ cell development, the majority of which (>80%) are undescribed. Our analysis identifies key matrisome networks acting autonomously and non-autonomously to coordinate germ cell behavior. Further, our results demonstrate that germ cell development requires continual remodeling of the matrisome landscape. Together, this study provides a comprehensive platform for deciphering how extracellular signaling controls cellular development and anticipate this will establish new opportunities for manipulating cell fates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aqilah Amran
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Lund Cancer Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Lara Pigatto
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Lund Cancer Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Johanna Farley
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Lund Cancer Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Rasoul Godini
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Roger Pocock
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Sandeep Gopal
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
- Lund Cancer Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Gleason RJ, Chen X. Epigenetic dynamics during germline development: insights from Drosophila and C. elegans. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 78:102017. [PMID: 36549194 PMCID: PMC10100592 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2022.102017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Gametogenesis produces the only cell type within a metazoan that contributes both genetic and epigenetic information to the offspring. Extensive epigenetic dynamics are required to express or repress gene expression in a precise spatiotemporal manner. On the other hand, early embryos must be extensively reprogrammed as they begin a new life cycle, involving intergenerational epigenetic inheritance. Seminal work in both Drosophila and C. elegans has elucidated the role of various regulators of epigenetic inheritance, including (1) histones, (2) histone-modifying enzymes, and (3) small RNA-dependent epigenetic regulation in the maintenance of germline identity. This review highlights recent discoveries of epigenetic regulation during the stepwise changes of transcription and chromatin structure that takes place during germline stem cell self-renewal, maintenance of germline identity, and intergenerational epigenetic inheritance. Findings from these two species provide precedence and opportunity to extend relevant studies to vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J. Gleason
- Department of Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Xin Chen
- HHMI, Department of Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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Li X, Singh N, Miller C, Washington I, Sosseh B, Gordon KL. The C. elegans gonadal sheath Sh1 cells extend asymmetrically over a differentiating germ cell population in the proliferative zone. eLife 2022; 11:75497. [PMID: 36094368 PMCID: PMC9467509 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The Caenorhabditis elegans adult hermaphrodite germline is surrounded by a thin tube formed by somatic sheath cells that support germ cells as they mature from the stem-like mitotic state through meiosis, gametogenesis, and ovulation. Recently, we discovered that the distal Sh1 sheath cells associate with mitotic germ cells as they exit the niche Gordon et al., 2020. Here, we report that these sheath-associated germ cells differentiate first in animals with temperature-sensitive mutations affecting germ cell state, and stem-like germ cells are maintained distal to the Sh1 boundary. We analyze several markers of the distal sheath, which is best visualized with endogenously tagged membrane proteins, as overexpressed fluorescent proteins fail to localize to distal membrane processes and can cause gonad morphology defects. However, such reagents with highly variable expression can be used to determine the relative positions of the two Sh1 cells, one of which often extends further distal than the other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Noor Singh
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Camille Miller
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - India Washington
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Bintou Sosseh
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Kacy Lynn Gordon
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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