Stage-specific control of niche positioning and integrity in the Drosophila testis

Schardt, Lisa; Ander, Janina-Jacqueline; Lohmann, Ingrid; Papagiannouli, Fani

doi:10.1016/j.mod.2015.07.009

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…Genetic analyses indicate that the Vav protein present in Drosophila melanogaster participates in Rac1-mediated axon guidance processes that contribute to both larval viability and the locomotor activity of adult flies [115,116]. This protein is also involved in an epidermal growth factor receptor-triggered signaling pathway that contributes to the viability of the male stem cell niche [117,118]. The use of gain-of-function Vav mutants has additionally revealed that this GEF can participate in several Rac1-dependent developmental processes in this fly such as dorsal closure, myoblast fusion, the proper migration of caudal visceral mesodermal cells, and the formation of the tracheal system [72].…”

Section: Physiological Rolesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Vav GEF Family: An Evolutionary and Functional Perspective

Rodríguez-Fdez

Bustelo

2019

Cells

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Vav proteins play roles as guanosine nucleotide exchange factors for Rho GTPases and signaling adaptors downstream of protein tyrosine kinases. The recent sequencing of the genomes of many species has revealed that this protein family originated in choanozoans, a group of unicellular organisms from which animal metazoans are believed to have originated from. Since then, the Vav family underwent expansions and reductions in its members during the evolutionary transitions that originated the agnates, chondrichthyes, some teleost fish, and some neoaves. Exotic members of the family harboring atypical structural domains can be also found in some invertebrate species. In this review, we will provide a phylogenetic perspective of the evolution of the Vav family. We will also pay attention to the structure, signaling properties, regulatory layers, and functions of Vav proteins in both invertebrate and vertebrate species.

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Section: Physiological Rolesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Vav GEF Family: An Evolutionary and Functional Perspective

Rodríguez-Fdez

Bustelo

2019

Cells

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“…In addition, in adult male D. melanogaster, Abd-B is required for correct function of the accessory gland (32), which is a component of the reproductive system that regulates the female response to mating (33). Moreover, this Hox gene is also required to maintain the identity of both germ line and somatic stem cells in the adult testis (34)(35)(36)(37). However, these somatic and postembryonic functions of Abd-B do not affect embryonic PGC establishment in D. melanogaster, which takes place much earlier in development.…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Hox genes limit germ cell formation in the short germ insect Gryllus bimaculatus

Barnett

Nakamura

Extavour

2019

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Hox genes are conserved transcription factor-encoding genes that specify the identity of body regions in bilaterally symmetrical animals. In the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, a member of the hemimetabolous insect group Orthoptera, the induction of a subset of mesodermal cells to form the primordial germ cells (PGCs) is restricted to the second through the fourth abdominal segments (A2 to A4). In numerous insect species, the Hox genes Sex-combs reduced (Scr), Antennapedia (Antp), Ultrabithorax (Ubx), and abdominal-A (abd-A) jointly regulate the identities of middle and posterior body segments, suggesting that these genes may restrict PGC formation to specific abdominal segments in G. bimaculatus. Here we show that reducing transcript levels of some or all of these Hox genes results in supernumerary and/or ectopic PGCs, either individually or in segment-specific combinations, suggesting that the role of these Hox genes is to limit PGC development with respect to their number, segmental location, or both. These data provide evidence of a role for this ancient group of genes in PGC development.

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“…In addition, in adult male D. melanogaster, Abd-B is required for correct function of the accessory gland (32), which is a component of the reproductive system that regulates the female response to mating (33). Moreover, this Hox gene is also required to maintain the identity of both germ line and somatic stem cells in the adult testis (34-37). However, these somatic and post-embryonic functions of Abd-B do not affect embryonic PGC establishment in D. melanogaster , which takes places much earlier in development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hox genes limit germ cell formation in the short germ insectGryllus bimaculatus

Barnett

Nakamura

Extavour

2018

Preprint

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20Hox genes are conserved transcription factor-encoding genes that specify the identity of body regions in 21 bilaterally symmetrical animals. In the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, a member of the hemimetabolous 22 insect group Orthoptera, the induction of a subset of mesodermal cells to form the primordial germ cells 23 (PGCs) is restricted to the second through the fourth abdominal segments (A2-A4). In numerous insect 24 species, the Hox genes Sex-combs reduced (Scr), Antennapedia (Antp), Ultrabithorax (Ubx) and 25 abdominal-A (abd-A) jointly regulate the identities of middle and posterior body segments, suggesting that 26 these genes may restrict PGC formation to specific abdominal segments in G. bimaculatus. Here we 27show that all of these Hox genes, either individually or in segment-specific combinations, restrict PGC 28 formation. Our data provides evidence for a segmental Hox code used to regulate the placement of PGC 29 formation, reminiscent of the segmental Hox codes used in other arthropod groups to establish other 30 aspects of segmental identity. These data also provide, to our knowledge, the first evidence for this 31 ancient group of genes in determining PGC placement within the context of axial patterning in any animal 32 studied thus far. specifying the body regions of bilaterally symmetrical animals during development (reviewed in 1). In 36 arthropods, Hox genes act to specify the distinct identities of different body segments (reviewed in 2), with 37 mutations in Hox genes usually resulting in switches of segmental type called homeotic transformations 38 (reviewed in 3). We previously showed that in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, which belongs to the 39 hemimetabolous insect order Orthoptera, the primordial germ cells (PGCs) form from the mesoderm of 40 the second to the fourth abdominal segments (A2-A4) (4) via a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-41 dependent mechanism (5). Given that BMP activity is not limited to the segments where PGCs form, but 42 rather, is present in the dorsal regions of all body segments (5), these data suggested that some 43 unidentified factor or factors must ensure that PGCs form specifically in A2-A4. As Hox genes play a 44 conserved role in establishing segmental identity, here we test the hypothesis that Hox genes contribute 45 to regulating the placement of the PGCs in A2-A4. 46Data implicating Hox genes in embryonic germ line placement in other animal taxa are scarce. In 48 transcription factor Blimp-1 (5-7). Mouse embryonic cells that take on PGC fate repress the Hox genes 49 Hoxa1 and Hoxb1 via activity of the BMP-activated transcription factor Blimp-1 (7-9). This has been 50 interpreted as reflecting the loss of somatic differentiation programs that is associated with adopting PGC 51 fate. Repression of Hox genes during differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hIPS) into in 52 vitro derived PGCs (iPGCs) (10) is consistent with the hypothesis that Hox gene expression and PGC fate 53 are mutually exclusive. In a system where germ cells are spec...

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Stage-specific control of niche positioning and integrity in the Drosophila testis

Cited by 4 publications

References 69 publications

The Vav GEF Family: An Evolutionary and Functional Perspective

The Vav GEF Family: An Evolutionary and Functional Perspective

Hox genes limit germ cell formation in the short germ insect Gryllus bimaculatus

Hox genes limit germ cell formation in the short germ insectGryllus bimaculatus

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