Polarity in stem cell division: asymmetric stem cell division in tissue homeostasis.
Many adult stem cells divide asymmetrically to balance self-renewal and differentiation, thereby maintaining tissue homeostasis. Asymmetric stem cell divisions depend on asymmetric cell architecture (i.e., cell polarity) within the cell and/or the cellular environment. In particular, as residents of the tissues they sustain, stem cells are inevitably placed in the context of the tissue architecture. Indeed, many stem cells are polarized within their microenvironment, or the stem cell niche, and their asymmetric division relies on their relationship with the microenvironment. Here, we review asymmetric stem cell divisions in the context of the stem cell niche with a focus on Drosophila germ line stem cells, where the nature of niche-dependent asymmetric stem cell division is well characterized.
Yamashita
Yukiko M
YM
Life Sciences Institute, Center for Stem Cell Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. yukikomy@umich.edu
Yuan
Hebao
H
Cheng
Jun
J
Hunt
Alan J
AJ
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*