title: Wnt ligands regulate Tkv expression to constrain Dpp activity in the Drosophila ovarian stem cell niche.
abstract: Stem cell self-renewal versus differentiation is regulated by the niche, which provides localized molecules that favor self-renewal. In the Drosophila melanogaster female germline stem cell (GSC) niche, Decapentaplegic (Dpp), a fly transforming growth factor β molecule and well-established long-range morphogen, acts over one cell diameter to maintain the GSCs. Here, we show that Thickveins (Tkv; a type I receptor of Dpp) is highly expressed in stromal cells next to Dpp-producing cells and functions to remove excess Dpp outside the niche, thereby spatially restricting its activity. Interestingly, Tkv expression in these stromal cells is regulated by multiple Wnt ligands that are produced by the niche. Our data demonstrate a self-restraining mechanism by which the Drosophila ovarian GSC niche acts to define its own boundary.
authors.affiliation: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory and Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117604 Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory and Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117604.
authors.forename: Lichao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory and Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117604.
authors.forename: Huashan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory and Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117604.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory and Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117604.
authors.forename: Sen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory and Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117604 Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory and Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117604 caiyu@tll.org.sg.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004330:Drosophila / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018010:Receptors, Invertebrate Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D055153:Stem Cell Niche; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018010:Receptors, Invertebrate Peptide; D051153:Wnt Proteins; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila; C090169:tkv protein, Drosophila; C066532:Egfr protein, Drosophila; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases