Multipotent Drosophila intestinal stem cells specify daughter cell fates by differential notch signaling.
The adult Drosophila midgut contains multipotent intestinal stem cells (ISCs) scattered along its basement membrane that have been shown by lineage analysis to generate both enterocytes and enteroendocrine cells. ISCs containing high levels of cytoplasmic Delta-rich vesicles activate the canonical Notch pathway and down-regulate Delta within their daughters, a process that programs these daughters to become enterocytes. ISCs that express little vesiculate Delta, or are genetically impaired in Notch signaling, specify their daughters to become enteroendocrine cells. Thus, ISCs control daughter cell fate by modulating Notch signaling over time. Our studies suggest that ISCs actively coordinate cell production with local tissue requirements by this mechanism.
Ohlstein
Benjamin
B
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 3520 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
Spradling
Allan
A
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002999:Clone Cells; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000166:cytology; D019858:Enteroendocrine Cells / Q000166:cytology; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008938:Mitosis; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000502:physiology
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C497759:N protein, Drosophila; D051880:Receptors, Notch; C064045:delta protein