Recently, we have identified stem cells (ISCs) in the Drosophila adult midgut that replenish the intestine throughout the entire lifetime of the animal. Drosophila ISCs, like vertebrate ISCs, are multipotent, producing both enterocytes and enteroendocrine cells. Furthermore, as in vertebrates, Drosophila ISCs utilize Notch signaling to produce an appropriate fraction of enteroendocrine cells and enterocytes. The relatively small cell number and simplicity of the Drosophila midgut allows one to identify ISCs morphologically under various conditions. Moreover, it is possible to remove gene function in marked clones of these cells in order to decipher the nature and directionality of signaling events. Based on our findings we will take advantage of the anatomically simpler but functionally relevant Drosophila system to address the following three specific aims. 1. Determine the cellular and molecular mechanisms that maintain Drosophila ISCs in a stem cell niche. 2. Identify the effects of nutrients, insulin signaling, and developmental signaling pathways like wingless and hedgehog on stem cell division, stability and differentiation. 3. Study how intercellular signals and environmental factors control the differentiation of enteroendocrine cells.

Public Health Relevance

. We have previously shown the maintenance and function of the adult Drosophila midgut bears many striking similarities to that seen in the human intestine. Therefore the results of our research should provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of human digestive disorders such as intestinal cancers, malabsorption syndromes, and diabetes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK082456-02
Application #
7808086
Study Section
Gastrointestinal Cell and Molecular Biology Study Section (GCMB)
Program Officer
Karp, Robert W
Project Start
2009-04-23
Project End
2013-12-31
Budget Start
2010-01-01
Budget End
2010-12-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$396,337
Indirect Cost
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
621889815
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10032
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Guo, Zheng; Ohlstein, Benjamin (2015) Stem cell regulation. Bidirectional Notch signaling regulates Drosophila intestinal stem cell multipotency. Science 350:
Driver, Ian; Ohlstein, Benjamin (2014) Specification of regional intestinal stem cell identity during Drosophila metamorphosis. Development 141:1848-56
Guo, Zheng; Driver, Ian; Ohlstein, Benjamin (2013) Injury-induced BMP signaling negatively regulates Drosophila midgut homeostasis. J Cell Biol 201:945-61
Lucchetta, Elena M; Ohlstein, Benjamin (2012) The Drosophila midgut: a model for stem cell driven tissue regeneration. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Dev Biol 1:781-8
Choi, Na Hyun; Lucchetta, Elena; Ohlstein, Benjamin (2011) Nonautonomous regulation of Drosophila midgut stem cell proliferation by the insulin-signaling pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108:18702-7
Mathur, Divya; Bost, Alyssa; Driver, Ian et al. (2010) A transient niche regulates the specification of Drosophila intestinal stem cells. Science 327:210-3