title: The progenitor state is maintained by lysine-specific demethylase 1-mediated epigenetic plasticity during Drosophila follicle cell development.
abstract: Progenitors are early lineage cells that proliferate before the onset of terminal differentiation. Although widespread, the epigenetic mechanisms that control the progenitor state and the onset of differentiation remain elusive. By studying Drosophila ovarian follicle cell progenitors, we identified lysine-specific demethylase 1 (lsd1) and CoRest as differentiation regulators using a GAL4∷GFP variegation assay. The follicle cell progenitors in lsd1 or CoRest heterozygotes prematurely lose epigenetic plasticity, undergo the Notch-dependent mitotic-endocycle transition, and stop dividing before a normal number of follicle cells can be produced. Simultaneously reducing the dosage of the histone H3K4 methyltransferase Trithorax reverses these effects, suggesting that an Lsd1/CoRest complex times progenitor differentiation by controlling the stability of H3K4 methylation levels. Individual cells or small clones initially respond to Notch; hence, a critical level of epigenetic stabilization is acquired cell-autonomously and initiates differentiation by making progenitors responsive to pre-existing external signals.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Laboratories, Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.
authors.forename: Ming-Chia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Laboratories, Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA spradling@ciwemb.edu.
authors.forename: Allan C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Spradling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism; D056970:Co-Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D008745:Methylation; D009866:Oogenesis; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D010089:Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D056970:Co-Repressor Proteins; C579421:CoREST protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006657:Histones; C497759:N protein, Drosophila; D051880:Receptors, Notch; C512571:trx protein, Drosophila; C524804:Lsd-1 protein, Drosophila; D010089:Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating
keywords: Lsd1; differentiation; epigenetic plasticity; progenitor