PUF-8, a Pumilio homolog, inhibits the proliferative fate in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline.
Stem cell populations are maintained by keeping a balance between self-renewal (proliferation) and differentiation of dividing stem cells. Within the Caenorhabditis elegans germline, the key regulator maintaining this balance is the canonical Notch signaling pathway, with GLP-1/Notch activity promoting the proliferative fate. We identified the Pumilio homolog, PUF-8, as an inhibitor of the proliferative fate of stem cells in the C. elegans germline. puf-8(0) strongly enhances overproliferation of glp-1(gf) mutants and partially suppresses underproliferation of a weak glp-1(lf) mutant. The germline tumor that is formed in a puf-8(0); glp-1(gf) double mutant is due to a failure of germ cells to enter meiotic prophase. puf-8 likely inhibits the proliferative fate through negatively regulating GLP-1/Notch signaling or by functioning parallel to it.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 1N4.
Hilary
H
Racher
Dave
D
Hansen
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008938:Mitosis; D008954:Models, Biological; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C060620:Glp-1 protein, C elegans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C510538:PUF-8 protein, C elegans; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch