title: Role of PUF-8/PUF protein in stem cell control, sperm-oocyte decision and cell fate reprogramming.
abstract: Pumilio and FBF (PUF) proteins are conserved stem cell regulators that maintain germline stem cells (GSCs) in worms and flies. Moreover, they are also present in vertebrate stem cells. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has multiple PUF proteins with specialized roles. Among them, PUF-8 protein controls multiple cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, sperm-oocyte decision, and cell fate reprogramming, depending on the genetic context in the C. elegans germline. In this review, we describe the possible mechanisms of how PUF-8 protein systematically controls multiple cellular processes in the C. elegans germline. Since PUF proteins are evolutionarily conserved, we suggest that a similar mechanism may be involved in controlling stem cell regulation and differentiation in other organisms, including humans.
authors.affiliation: Program in Biomedical Sciences, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina; Department of Oncology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Udaya Sree
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Datla
authors.forename: Natasha Carol
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Scovill
authors.forename: Austin J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Brokamp
authors.forename: Eunsuk
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Adam S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Asch
authors.forename: Myon-Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C510538:PUF-8 protein, C elegans; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins