title: Epigenetic regulation of stem cell maintenance in the Drosophila testis via the nucleosome-remodeling factor NURF.
abstract: Regulation of stem cells depends on both tissue-specific transcriptional regulators and changes in chromatin organization, yet the coordination of these events in endogenous niches is poorly understood. In the Drosophila testis, local JAK-STAT signaling maintains germline and somatic stem cells (GSCs and cyst progenitor cells, or CPCs) in a single niche. Here we show that epigenetic regulation via the nucleosome-remodeling factor (NURF) complex ensures GSC and CPC maintenance by positively regulating JAK-STAT signaling, thereby preventing premature differentiation. Conversely, NURF is not required in early differentiating daughter cells of either lineage. Because three additional ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers (ACF, CHRAC, and dMi-2/NuRD) are dispensable for stem cell maintenance in the testis, epigenetic regulation of stem cells within this niche may rely primarily on NURF. Thus, local signals cooperate with specific chromatin-remodeling complexes in intact niches to coordinately regulate a common set of target genes to prevent premature stem cell differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cherry
authors.forename: Erika L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Matunis
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / Q000235:genetics; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000473:pathology; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C437989:E(bx) protein, Drosophila; C086468:ISWI protein; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; C460659:Socs36E protein, Drosophila; C105675:Stat92E protein, Drosophila; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D053612:Janus Kinases; C085845:hop protein, Drosophila; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases