title: The Drosophila Sp8 transcription factor Buttonhead prevents premature differentiation of intermediate neural progenitors.
abstract: Intermediate neural progenitor cells (INPs) need to avoid differentiation and cell cycle exit while maintaining restricted developmental potential, but mechanisms preventing differentiation and cell cycle exit of INPs are not well understood. In this study, we report that the Drosophila homolog of mammalian Sp8 transcription factor Buttonhead (Btd) prevents premature differentiation and cell cycle exit of INPs in Drosophila larval type II neuroblast (NB) lineages. We show that the loss of Btd leads to elimination of mature INPs due to premature differentiation of INPs into terminally dividing ganglion mother cells. We provide evidence to demonstrate that Btd prevents the premature differentiation by suppressing the expression of the homeodomain protein Prospero in immature INPs. We further show that Btd functions cooperatively with the Ets transcription factor Pointed P1 to promote the generation of INPs. Thus, our work reveals a critical mechanism that prevents premature differentiation and cell cycle exit of Drosophila INPs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, United States.
authors.forename: Yonggang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, United States.
authors.forename: Xiaosu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, United States.
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, United States.
authors.forename: Shaolin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, United States.
authors.forename: Hongyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, United States.
authors.forename: Andreacarola
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urso
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, United States.
authors.forename: Sijun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007814:Larva / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014157:Transcription Factors; C084801:btd protein, Drosophila; C083884:pnt protein, Drosophila; C073099:pros protein, Drosophila
keywords: Buttonhead; D. melanogaster; Prospero; Sp8; developmental biology; intermediate neural progenitor; neuroblast; neuroscience; pointed; stem cells