Review
Cell Biology
Jian Jin, Ting Zhao
Summary: Adult stem cells have the ability to self-renew and differentiate daughter cells, which is regulated by signals from niche cells. Niche cells play a crucial role in maintaining tissue homeostasis. The Drosophila ovary is a valuable model to study the regulation of niche cells and germ cells. This review summarizes the structure and formation of the ovarian niche, the signaling pathways involved, and how niche cells control germ cell proliferation during ovarian development.
CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yanran Deng, Dezhen Peng, Jing Xiao, Yunhe Zhao, Wenhao Ding, Shengtao Yuan, Li Sun, Jian Ding, Zizhang Zhou, Meixiao Zhan
Summary: This study reveals a Hh-independent mechanism of SUFU exerting the anti-tumor role by suppressing tumor cell migration through antagonizing ZNF281.
CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiajia Gao, Yan Gao, Guiran Xiao
Summary: This study reveals the crucial role of the zinc transporter Catsup in ovary morphogenesis, as knockdown of Catsup in escort cells leads to defects in niche establishment and germline stem cell self-renewal. Further investigations demonstrate that Catsup affects adult ovary formation by suppressing Notch signaling, and the defects caused by Catsup knockdown can be restored by overexpressing heat shock cognate protein 70 (Hsc70).
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Yong Suk Cho, Jin Jiang
Summary: The Hippo signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved tumor suppressor pathway that controls tissue growth and organ size by regulating cell proliferation and death, and is implicated in a wide range of human cancers. It consists of a kinase cascade regulated by various upstream signals.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Linwei Yang, Zi-Ang Wang, Ran Geng, Shengwen Niu, Hongliang Zuo, Zhixun Guo, Shaoping Weng, Jianguo He, Xiaopeng Xu
Summary: The Hippo pathway plays a critical role in the immune defense of Pacific white shrimp against Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection. Activation of Hippo signaling and inhibition of Yorkie enhance the antibacterial immunity in shrimp. There is a complex regulatory relationship between the components of the Hippo pathway and immune-related transcription factors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qian Dong, Michael Zavortink, Francesca Froldi, Sofya Golenkina, Tammy Lam, Louise Y. Cheng
Summary: This study investigates the non-autonomous regulation of neural stem cell proliferation by glial cells, revealing the crucial roles of lipid droplets and the Hedgehog signaling molecule in this process. By modulating Hh signaling, glial cells have the ability to influence the proliferation of neural stem cells and their neuron-producing capability.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuxue Gao, Zhaoliang Shan, Chunhua Jian, Ying Wang, Xia Yao, Shengnan Li, Xiuxiu Ti, Guochun Zhao, Chen Liu, Qing Zhang
Summary: Hedgehog signaling mediated by Ci/Gli plays a key role in development and homeostasis, and dysregulation can lead to human disorders. Cofactors of Ci/Gli that affect tumorigenesis are not well understood. Through genetic screening in Drosophila, the researchers found that overexpression of active Ci alone is not sufficient to generate a tumor-like phenotype, but when combined with knockdown of hib, it leads to a striking tumor-like big eye phenotype. Mechanistically, HIB/SPOP inhibits tumorigenesis by modulating the stability of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) components. Additionally, Ci/Gli can promote HIB/SPOP-mediated degradation of Rpb7/Rpb3. The results indicate the importance of Ci/Gli and suitable RNAPII interaction in achieving the tumor-like eye phenotype and highlight the dual role of HIB/SPOP in controlling tumorigenesis.
Review
Cell Biology
Daichi Honda, Misako Okumura, Takahiro Chihara
Summary: Cell behavior is influenced by various stimuli, including growth factors, nutrients, and cell density. The mTOR pathway is activated by growth factors and nutrients to regulate cell growth and autophagy, while the Hippo pathway has negative effects on cell proliferation and tissue growth in response to cell density and DNA damage. The interaction between the mTOR and Hippo pathways is critical for proper cell behavior and is currently being studied to better understand its molecular mechanisms and its importance in tissue growth and nutrient consumption.
DEVELOPMENT GROWTH & DIFFERENTIATION
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Dominique Manikowski, Philipp Kastl, Sabine Schuermann, Kristina Ehring, Georg Steffes, Petra Jakobs, Kay Grobe
Summary: The study reveals that C-terminal cholesteroylation of Hedgehog is essential for early steps of production and maturation, but dispensable for signal reception at receiving cells.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiang Ding, Zhuojie Li, Kai Peng, Rui Zou, Chenxi Wu, Gufa Lin, Wenzhe Li, Lei Xue
Summary: Snail (Sna) is found to be an essential regulator in Hippo signalling-mediated cell proliferation and tissue growth during normal tissue development.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kendra L. Clark, John S. Davis
Summary: This study investigated the effects of PFOA on ovarian follicular development during the neonatal period and its potential impacts on the Hippo signaling pathway in mice. The results showed that PFOA stimulated follicular activation and growth, potentially through the activation of the Hippo pathway.
TOXICOLOGY AND APPLIED PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eva Louise Steinmetz, Denise Nicole Dewald, Uwe Walldorf
Summary: The study identified Hipk as a kinase that phosphorylates Yki, mapping several phosphorylation sites of Yki. These sites potentially provide additional regulation for Yki in vivo, with transgenic flies exhibiting notable phenotypes. Hipk is therefore an additional upstream regulator of Yki working in conjunction with Wts.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Linwei Yang, Zi-Ang Wang, Ran Geng, Hengwei Deng, Shengwen Niu, Hongliang Zuo, Shaoping Weng, Jianguo He, Xiaopeng Xu
Summary: The study suggests that the white spot syndrome virus enhances infection in shrimp by inhibiting Hippo signaling and activating Yki.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jingyuan Shi, Zhen Jin, Yaxin Yu, Yongchao Zhang, Fu Yang, Huanwei Huang, Tao Cai, Rongwen Xi
Summary: In the germarium of the Drosophila ovary, a population of somatic escort cells can be divided into two successive domains, with the anterior escort cells producing ecdysone to promote cell division and the posterior escort cells responding to ecdysone signaling to regulate cell adhesion. This distribution of escort cells is independent of the germline but dependent on JAK/STAT signaling activity, orchestrating cystoblast division and differentiation towards egg chamber formation.
Article
Cell Biology
Xianping Wang, Hui Liang, Wenyan Xu, Xianjue Ma
Summary: Both Hippo signaling pathways and cell polarity regulation are vital for cell proliferation and tissue homeostasis. This study uncovers the Wnd-Nmo axis as a crucial molecular link between loss-of-cell polarity-triggered Hippo inactivation and overgrowth in Drosophila, providing new insights into how cell polarity loss contributes to overgrowth.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Applications
Tian-Jiao Feng, Jie Mei, Rui-Wu Wang, Sabin Lessard, Yi Tao, Xiu-Deng Zheng
Summary: The influence of environmental noise on cyclic dominance in the rock-paper-scissors game is explored using the stochastic stability theory of Ito's stochastic differential equations. Stochastic stability conditions for constant equilibrium states are obtained, and stochastic simulations of the global dynamics are performed. The results show that none of the fixation states of the system can be stochastically stable, and an increase in the noise level can result in the loss of stochastic stability of the constant interior equilibrium. Moreover, the simulation results reveal the appearance of a noise-induced quasi-heteroclinic cycle when the constant interior equilibrium loses its stochastic stability as the noise level increases.
DYNAMIC GAMES AND APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Bo Zhang, Hui Peng, Mi Zhou, Lei Bao, Chenliang Wang, Feng Cai, Hongxia Zhang, Jennifer E. Wang, Yanling Niu, Yan Chen, Yijie Wang, Kimmo J. Hatanpaa, John A. Copland, Ralph J. DeBerardinis, Yingfei Wang, Weibo Luo
Summary: This study reveals that BCAT1 plays a role in promoting the growth of IDHWT GBM. Loss of BCAT1 protein leads to the killing of IDHWT GBM cells by x-ketoglutarate (AKG), which can be reversed by reexpression of BCAT1 or supplementation with its downstream metabolic products, branched-chain ketoacids (BCKA). This finding uncovers a targetable metabolic vulnerability in the most common subset of GBM and provides a therapeutic strategy to improve glioblastoma treatment.
Article
Cell Biology
Tangming Guan, Xiao Yang, Hui Liang, Jiayi Chen, Yan Chen, Yingjie Zhu, Tongzheng Liu
Summary: This study reveals the important regulatory mechanism of breast cancer metastasis and chemoresistance, namely the USP9X-Snail1 axis, and provides a rationale for potential therapeutic interventions in the treatment of TNBC.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Jie Mei, Yi Tao, Cong Li, Xiu-Deng Zheng
Summary: This study extends evolutionary game dynamics with non-uniform interaction rates to finite population and investigates the influence of non-uniform interaction rates on fixation probability under weak selection. The stochastic dynamic properties of a two-phenotype game with non-uniform interaction rates in a finite population are analyzed by utilizing the diffusion approximation of the Moran process and assuming weak selection. The analysis reveals the potential evolutionary complexity of game dynamics in finite population caused by non-uniform interaction rates.
JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Yongzhi Hua, Yangyang Zhu, Yixuan Hu, Fanrui Kong, Renjie Duan, Chao Zhang, Chuchu Zhang, Shikun Zhang, Yiheng Jin, Yizhu Ye, Qingshuang Cai, Shanming Ji
Summary: This study reveals the dual mechanisms by which the dTrbd/dTak1 feedback loop precisely regulates the innate immune response in Drosophila, highlighting its significance for the maintenance of immune homeostasis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maowu Luo, Lei Bao, Yan Chen, Yuanyuan Xue, Yong Wang, Bo Zhang, Chenliang Wang, Chase D. Corley, Jeffrey G. McDonald, Ashwani Kumar, Chao Xing, Yisheng Fang, Erik R. Nelson, Jennifer E. Wang, Yingfei Wang, Weibo Luo
Summary: The histone reader ZMYND8 is selectively expressed in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) and promotes breast tumor initiation through its epigenetic functions by regulating 27-HC metabolism, leading to the accumulation of 27-HC in BCSCs and activation of liver X receptor.
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Tian-Jiao Feng, Song-Jia Fan, Cong Li, Yi Tao, Xiu-Deng Zheng
Summary: This paper investigates the dynamical properties of the stochastic Prisoner's Dilemma (SPD) game based on the concept proposed by Bereby-Meyer and Roth. The results show that for the non-repeated SPD game, increasing noise intensity leads to the loss of stochastic stability and non-equilibrium phase transition, while the fixation probability of cooperation increases. However, for the stochastic TFT-AllD game, increasing noise intensity leads to the loss of stochastic stability but not the non-equilibrium phase transition.
APPLIED MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTATION
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Qingshuang Cai, Jing Yan, Renjie Duan, Yangyang Zhu, Yongzhi Hua, Yongrong Liao, Qingyang Li, Weini Li, Shanming Ji
Summary: The Drosophila ovary has been a well-established system for studying stem cell fate determination mechanisms. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling promotes the maintenance of germline stem cells (GSCs) by inhibiting the transcription of the bag-of-marbles (bam) gene. This study reveals that the E3 ligase Cullin-2 (Cul2) is involved in regulating Bam ubiquitination, which is crucial for GSC maintenance and proper germline development.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Miao Chen, Ping Zhou, Yun Kong, Jingrui Li, Yan Li, Yao Zhang, Jie Ran, Jun Zhou, Yan Chen, Songbo Xie
Summary: By exploiting aptamers as targeting warheads, we developed a strategy for inducible degradation of undruggable proteins, thereby inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. To reduce on-target toxicity, we further developed a light-controllable PROTAC that can release the targeting warhead through UV irradiation, leading to target activation and degradation.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Wei Xie, Siqi Gao, Yunfan Yang, Hongjie Li, Junyan Zhou, Mingzhen Chen, Song Yang, Yijun Zhang, Liang Zhang, Xiaoqian Meng, Songbo Xie, Min Liu, Dengwen Li, Yan Chen, Jun Zhou
Summary: This study reveals that the deubiquitinating enzyme CYLD plays a critical role in cardiac gap junction assembly. CYLD interacts with plakoglobin and removes lysine 63-linked polyubiquitin chains from plakoglobin, enhancing its interaction with the desmoplakin/end-binding protein 1 complex and promoting microtubule-dependent transport of connexin 43 (Cx43) to the cell membrane.
Article
Cell Biology
Qingshuang Cai, Huimin Guo, Rong Fang, Yongzhi Hua, Yangyang Zhu, Xianrui Zheng, Jing Yan, Jiale Wang, Yixuan Hu, Chuchu Zhang, Chao Zhang, Renjie Duan, Fanrui Kong, Shikun Zhang, Di Chen, Shanming Ji
Summary: The Toll signaling pathway is involved in early embryogenesis and innate immune response. In this study, the researchers found that one of the transcription factors of the Toll pathway in fruit flies, dorsal, can induce the expression of E3 ligase Bre1, which promotes the transcription of cactus to regulate the Toll immune response.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jie Li, Xiangxiang Liu, Bin Peng, Tingting Feng, Wen Zhou, Li Meng, Shanshan Zhao, Xiyuan Zheng, Chen Wu, Shian Wu, Xing Chen, Xingzhi Xu, Jianwei Sun, Jing Li
Summary: The study reveals that O-GlcNAc glycosylation promotes nuclear localization and chromatin association of PARG, enhances its recruitment to DNA damage sites, and inhibits the ADP-ribosylation of DDB1, stabilizing DDB1 and degrading its downstream target c-Myc. Additionally, the O-GlcNAc-deficient mutant PARG-S26A promotes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in mouse xenograft models.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Cong Li, Tianjia Feng, Yi Tao, Xiudeng Zheng, Jiajia Wu
Summary: This article examines whether natural selection can effectively resist the continuous disturbance of environmental noise in order to maintain the direction or outcome of evolution determined by deterministic selection pressure. By analyzing the impact of weak selection on stochastic replicator dynamics, it is found that weak selection can enhance evolutionary stability. Under weak selection, the stochastic evolutionary stability of the system is determined by the mean payoff matrix. This finding strongly suggests that weak selection should be regarded as an important mechanism for ensuring evolutionary stability in stochastic environments.
JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Tian-Jiao Feng, Cong Li, Xiu-Deng Zheng, Sabin Lessard, Yi Tao
Summary: The concept of evolutionary stability in a stochastic environment is developed through investigating the continuous-time dynamics of a two-phenotype linear evolutionary game with generally correlated random payoffs. By extending the replicator equation, a stochastic differential equation called the stochastic replicator equation is deduced. Conditions for stochastic stability of fixation states or constant interior equilibrium points are given, and it is shown that fixation states that are stochastically stable must correspond to strategies that are stochastically evolutionarily stable with respect to mixed strategies, but this is not the case for mixed strategies corresponding to stochastically stable constant interior equilibrium points with respect to the two phenotypes.
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Tian-Jiao Feng, Jie Mei, Cong Li, Xiu-Deng Zheng, Sabin Lessard, Yi Tao
Summary: This paper investigates the stochastic stability of multiphenotype symmetric and asymmetric matrix games with random payoffs, providing new perspectives and a general theoretical framework for a better understanding of the evolution of animal behavior in a stochastic environment.
