The Osa-Containing SWI/SNF Chromatin-Remodeling Complex Is Required in the Germline Differentiation Niche for Germline Stem Cell Progeny Differentiation.

Xiaolong Hu,Xue Hao,Mengjie Li,Geng Wu,Lei Zhang,Yi Lu

doi:10.3390/genes12030363

Abstract

The Drosophila ovary is recognized as a powerful model to study stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. Decapentaplegic (Dpp) is secreted from the germline stem cell (GSC) niche to activate Bone Morphogenic Protein (BMP) signaling in GSCs for their self-renewal and is restricted in the differentiation niche for daughter cell differentiation. Here, we report that Switch/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) component Osa depletion in escort cells (ECs) results in a blockage of GSC progeny differentiation. Further molecular and genetic analyses suggest that the defective germline differentiation is partially attributed to the elevated dpp transcription in ECs. Moreover, ectopic Engrailed (En) expression in osa-depleted ECs partially contributes to upregulated dpp transcription. Furthermore, we show that Osa regulates germline differentiation in a Brahma (Brm)-associated protein (BAP)-complex-dependent manner. Additionally, the loss of EC long cellular processes upon osa depletion may also partly contribute to the germline differentiation defect. Taken together, these data suggest that the epigenetic factor Osa plays an important role in controlling EC characteristics and germline lineage differentiation.

Highlights

germline stem cell (GSC) were identified by the spectrosomes, which germline differentiation both wild-type (WT)
The GSCs were identified by the spectrosomes, which directly germaria contained significantly rounderby fusome-containing cells contact the cap cells (CpCs)
Switch/sucrose nonfermentable (SWI/SNF) complex protein Osa was identified as a regulator of germline differentiation in the Drosophila female germline differentiation niche

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. The self-renewal of adult stem cells and the differentiation of their daughters are critical for homeostasis in many tissues, which are commonly regulated by microenvironments, known as niches. The niche is composed of several different cell types of somatic lineage, which controls stem cell lineage extrinsically through intercellular signaling pathways [1,2]. It is important to understand how the niche functions to regulate tissue homeostasis

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