Abstract
BackgroundGermline stem cells (GSCs) are present in the gonads of Drosophila females and males, and their proper maintenance, as well as their correct differentiation, is essential for fertility and fecundity. The molecular characterization of factors involved in maintenance and differentiation is a major goal both in Drosophila and stem cell research. While genetic studies have identified many of these key factors, the use of genome-wide expression studies holds the potential to greatly increase our knowledge of these pathways.ResultsHere we report a genome-wide expression study that uses laser cutting microdissection to isolate germline stem cells, somatic niche cells, and early differentiating germ cells from female and male gonads. Analysis of this data, in association with two previously published genome-wide GSC data sets, revealed sets of candidate genes as putatively expressed in specific cell populations. Investigation of one of these genes, CG10990 the Drosophila ortholog of mammalian Programmed cell death 4 (Pdcd4), reveals expression in female and male germline stem cells and early differentiating daughter cells. Functional analysis demonstrates that while it is not essential for oogenesis or spermatogenesis, it does function to promote the differentiation of GSCs in females. Furthermore, in females, Pdcd4 genetically interacts with the key differentiation gene bag of marbles (bam) and the stem cell renewal factor eIF4A, suggesting a possible pathway for its function in differentiation.ConclusionsWe propose that Pdcd4 promotes the differentiation of GSC daughter cells by relieving the eIF4A-mediated inhibition of Bam.
Highlights
Germline stem cells (GSCs) are present in the gonads of Drosophila females and males, and their proper maintenance, as well as their correct differentiation, is essential for fertility and fecundity
Gene expression patterns in GSCs and early gametogenesis With the aim of identifying new candidate genes with putative functions in stem cell maintenance and the early differentiation programs of female and male germ cells, we sought to identify genes whose expression is enriched in specific cell populations in adult gonadal tissue containing GSCs, early differentiating germ cells, and somatic cells
Previous genome-wide gene expression studies in flies have examined either whole gonads [7,11], hand dissected regions of gonads [37], or stem cells enriched by cell sorting and/or genetic manipulation [9,14]
Summary
Germline stem cells (GSCs) are present in the gonads of Drosophila females and males, and their proper maintenance, as well as their correct differentiation, is essential for fertility and fecundity. Stem cells are essential for embryonic development and tissue maintenance and repair. They have the ability to divide to produce cells that can retain stem cell identity (self-renewal) as well as cells that can differentiate into specialized cell types (differentiation). The Drosophila germline is a well established model for the study of adult stem cells and the control of self-renewal and differentiation [1]. At the anterior of the ovariole, the germarium houses the stem cell niche, germline and somatic stem cells, and the first stage of egg chamber development. The maintenance of GSCs requires adherens junctions with niche cells and short-range
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