Escargot Restricts Niche Cell to Stem Cell Conversion in the Drosophila Testis

• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.04.025
• Publication Date: 2014-05-01T15:48:43Z
• Authors: Justin Voog; Sharsti L. Sandall; Gary R. Hime; Luís Pedro F. Res...; Mariano Loza-Coll; Aaron Aslanian; John R. Yates; Tony Hunter; Margaret T. Fuller; D. Leanne Jones
• Keywords: Corepressor

Stem cells reside within specialized microenvironments, or niches, that control many aspects of stem cell behavior. Somatic hub in the Drosophila testis regulate behavior cyst (CySCs) and germline (GSCs) are a primary component niche. The shutoff (shof) mutation, characterized by premature loss GSCs CySCs, was mapped to locus encoding evolutionarily conserved transcription factor Escargot (Esg). Hub depleted Esg acquire CySC characteristics differentiate as cells, resulting complete eventually CySCs GSCs, similar shof mutant phenotype. We identified Esg-interacting proteins demonstrate an interaction between corepressor C-terminal binding protein (CtBP), which also required for maintenance fate. Our results indicate niche can properties upon removal single vivo.