title: Discovery of two GLP-1/Notch target genes that account for the role of GLP-1/Notch signaling in stem cell maintenance.
abstract: A stem cell's immediate microenvironment creates an essential "niche" to maintain stem cell self-renewal. Many niches and their intercellular signaling pathways are known, but for the most part, the key downstream targets of niche signaling remain elusive. Here, we report the discovery of two GLP-1/Notch target genes, lst-1 (lateral signaling target) and sygl-1 (synthetic Glp), that function redundantly to maintain germ-line stem cells (GSCs) in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Whereas lst-1 and sygl-1 single mutants appear normal, lst-1 sygl-1 double mutants are phenotypically indistinguishable from glp-1/Notch mutants. Multiple lines of evidence demonstrate that GLP-1/Notch signaling activates lst-1 and sygl-1 expression in GSCs within the niche. Therefore, these two genes fully account for the role of GLP-1/Notch signaling in GSC maintenance. Importantly, lst-1 and sygl-1 are not required for GLP-1/Notch signaling per se. We conclude that lst-1 and sygl-1 forge a critical link between Notch signaling and GSC maintenance.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706.
authors.forename: Aaron M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kershner
authors.forename: Heaji
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Tyler J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kimble
mesh_terms: D001562:Benzimidazoles; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D011136:Polysorbates; D034622:RNA Interference; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001562:Benzimidazoles; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C588217:LST-1 protein, C elegans; D011136:Polysorbates; D051880:Receptors, Notch; C588218:SYGL-1 protein, C elegans; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; C017807:bisbenzimide ethoxide trihydrochloride