title: Homeodomain interacting protein kinase (HPK-1) is required in the soma for robust germline proliferation in C. elegans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tightly regulated pathways maintain the balance between proliferation and differentiation within stem cell populations. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the germline is the only tissue that is maintained by stem-like cells into adulthood. In the current study, we investigated the role played by a member of the Homeodomain interacting protein kinase (HIPK) family of serine/threonine kinases, HPK-1, in the development and maintenance of the C. elegans germline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report that HPK-1 is required for promotion of germline proliferation during development and into adulthood. Additionally, we show that HPK-1 is required in the soma for regulation of germline proliferation. We also show that HPK-1 is a predominantly nuclear protein expressed in several somatic tissues including germline-interacting somatic cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our observations are consistent with a conserved role for HIPKs in the control of cellular proliferation and identify a new context for such control in germ cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Slavica
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berber
authors.forename: Estelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Llamosas
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thaivalappil
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Boag
authors.forename: Merlin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crossley
authors.forename: Hannah R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Nicholas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
keywords: C. elegans; HIPK; germline; hpk-1; proliferation; stem cells