The JAK/STAT pathway positively regulates DPP signaling in the Drosophila germline stem cell niche.
The stem cell niche, formed by surrounding stromal cells, provides extrinsic signals that maintain stem cell self-renewal. However, it remains unclear how these extrinsic signals are regulated. In the Drosophila female germline stem cell (GSC) niche, Decapentaplegic (DPP) is an important niche factor for GSC self-renewal. The exact source of the DPP and how its transcription is regulated in this niche remain unclear. We show that dpp is expressed in somatic cells of the niche including the cap cells, a subtype of niche cells. Furthermore, our data show that the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway positively regulates dpp expression in the cap cells, suggesting that JAK/STAT activity is required in somatic niche cells to prevent precocious GSC differentiation. Our data suggest that the JAK/STAT pathway functions downstream/independently of cap cell formation induced by Notch signaling. JAK/STAT signaling may also regulate dpp expression in the male GSC niche, suggesting a common origin of female and male GSC niches.
Wang
Liwei
L
Temasek Lifesciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Li
Zhouhua
Z
Cai
Yu
Y
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C497759:N protein, Drosophila; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila; D053612:Janus Kinases; C085845:hop protein, Drosophila