Caenorhabditis elegans germ line: a model for stem cell biology.
Like many stem cell systems, the Caenorhabditis elegans germ line contains a self-renewing germ cell population that is maintained by a niche. Although the exact cellular mechanism for self-renewal is not yet known, three recent studies shed considerable light on the cell cycle behavior of germ cells, including a support for significant and plastic renewal potential. This review brings together the results of the three recent cell-based studies, places them in the context of previous work, and discusses future perspectives for the field.
Hubbard
E Jane Albert
EJ
New York University School of Medicine, Developmental Genetics, Skirball Institute for Biomolecular Medicine, Department of Pathology, Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, New York, New York 10016, USA. jhubbard@saturn.med.nyu.edu
D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008938:Mitosis; D008954:Models, Biological; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C060620:Glp-1 protein, C elegans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch