title: Loss of the Polycomb group gene polyhomeotic induces non-autonomous cell overproliferation.
abstract: Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are conserved epigenetic regulators that are linked to cancer in humans. However, little is known about how they control cell proliferation. Here, we report that mutant clones of the PcG gene polyhomeotic (ph) form unique single-cell-layer cavities that secrete three JAK/STAT pathway ligands, which in turn act redundantly to stimulate overproliferation of surrounding wild-type cells. Notably, different ph alleles cause different phenotypes at the cellular level. Although the ph-null allele induces non-autonomous overgrowth, an allele encoding truncated Ph induces both autonomous and non-autonomous overgrowth. We propose that PcG misregulation promotes tumorigenesis through several cellular mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, 4112 Plant Sciences Building, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.
authors.forename: Siqian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D054910:Compound Eye, Arthropod / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017353:Gene Deletion; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000378:metabolism; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D050505:Mutant Proteins; C497759:N protein, Drosophila; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; C508880:Upd2 protein, Drosophila; C072820:ph-d protein, Drosophila; C115570:upd1 protein, Drosophila; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1; D053612:Janus Kinases; C085845:hop protein, Drosophila