The mechanisms that restrict proliferation and suppress de-differentiation of transit amplifying cells in adult stem cell lineages are unknown. Mature secondary neuroblasts in Drosophila larval brains resemble vertebrate transit amplifying cells, and undergo limited rounds of asymmetric divisions to regenerate and to produce terminally differentiated neurons. We identified a novel transcription factor Earmuff (Erm), which restricts proliferation and suppresses de-differentiation of mature secondary neuroblasts. In erm mutant brains, mature secondary neuroblasts de-differentiate back into their parental neuroblast fates resulting in a dramatic increase in type II neuroblasts. The physiological and functional properties of the de-differentiated neuroblasts are indistinguishable from the endogenous type II neuroblasts. The de-differentiation phenotype in erm mutant brains can be rescued by targeted expression of Erm or its mouse homologs in mature secondary neuroblasts. Intriguingly, de-differentiation of mature secondary neuroblasts in erm mutant brains occurs independently of cortical cell polarity. Our data suggest that Erm restricts proliferation by promoting Prospero-mediate cell cycle exit, but suppresses de-differentiation by negatively regulating Notch signaling. Our proposal outlined below will provide insight into the molecular mechanisms by which Erm restricts proliferation and suppresses de-differentiation of mature secondary neuroblasts.

Public Health Relevance

Many types of stem cells generate transit amplifying cells to transiently expand the pool of un- differentiated progenitors during normal development, maintenance of homeostasis and tissue regeneration. Restriction of proliferation and suppression of de-differentiation in transit amplifying cells are keys to generate necessary differentiated progeny while preventing aberrant cell fate specification that might lead to tumorigenesis. Thus, how proliferation and de-differentiation are regulated in transit amplifying cells is a fundamental question that concerns virtually all adult stem cell types. In this proposal, we will use mature secondary neuroblasts in developing fly larval brains as an in vivo model system to study how proliferation and de-differentiation are regulated in transit amplifying cells.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01GM092818-01
Application #
7863320
Study Section
Neurogenesis and Cell Fate Study Section (NCF)
Program Officer
Maas, Stefan
Project Start
2010-05-01
Project End
2015-04-30
Budget Start
2010-05-01
Budget End
2011-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$296,599
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Type
Organized Research Units
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
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Kuang, Chaoyuan; Golden, Krista L; Simon, Claudio R et al. (2014) A novel fizzy/Cdc20-dependent mechanism suppresses necrosis in neural stem cells. Development 141:1453-64
Janssens, Derek H; Komori, Hideyuki; Grbac, Daniel et al. (2014) Earmuff restricts progenitor cell potential by attenuating the competence to respond to self-renewal factors. Development 141:1036-46
Janssens, Derek H; Lee, Cheng-Yu (2014) It takes two to tango, a dance between the cells of origin and cancer stem cells in the Drosophila larval brain. Semin Cell Dev Biol 28:63-9
Komori, Hideyuki; Xiao, Qi; Janssens, Derek H et al. (2014) Trithorax maintains the functional heterogeneity of neural stem cells through the transcription factor buttonhead. Elife 3:
Haenfler, Jill M; Kuang, Chaoyuan; Lee, Cheng-Yu (2012) Cortical aPKC kinase activity distinguishes neural stem cells from progenitor cells by ensuring asymmetric segregation of Numb. Dev Biol 365:219-28
Xiao, Qi; Komori, Hideyuki; Lee, Cheng-Yu (2012) klumpfuss distinguishes stem cells from progenitor cells during asymmetric neuroblast division. Development 139:2670-80
Weng, Mo; Komori, Hideyuki; Lee, Cheng-Yu (2012) Identification of neural stem cells in the Drosophila larval brain. Methods Mol Biol 879:39-46
Weng, Mo; Haenfler, Jill M; Lee, Cheng-Yu (2012) Changes in Notch signaling coordinates maintenance and differentiation of the Drosophila larval optic lobe neuroepithelia. Dev Neurobiol 72:1376-90
Weng, Mo; Lee, Cheng-Yu (2011) Keeping neural progenitor cells on a short leash during Drosophila neurogenesis. Curr Opin Neurobiol 21:36-42

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