title: Identification of a histone acetyltransferase as a novel regulator of Drosophila intestinal stem cells.
abstract: One of the major challenges in stem cell research is to decipher the controlling mechanisms/genes of stem cell homeostasis. Through an RNAi mediated genetic screen of living animals, we identified an evolutionarily conserved histone acetyltransferase Atac2 as a novel regulator of Drosophila intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Expression of Atac2-RNAi or a dominant negative allele of Atac2 generated more ISCs, while excessive Atac2 or a histone deacetylase inhibitor promoted ISC differentiation without affecting ISC survival or lineage specification. These findings extend our knowledge of epigenetic mechanisms in stem cell regulation.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, The Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
authors.forename: Yansen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yaping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C582439:Atac2 protein, Drosophila; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases