Article
Cell Biology
Lucas M. Jozwick, Ashok P. Bidwai
Summary: The effects of Notch signaling in metazoan animals are mediated by the Enhancer of Split (E(spl)/HES) basic Helix-Loop-Helix-Orange (bHLH-O) repressors. This study explores the phosphorylation of these repressors and its impact on their function. It identifies E(spl)-M gamma as a new target of CK2 and reveals that the phosphorylation site is juxtaposed to the WRPW motif. The distinct positioning of CK2 and MAPK sites suggests that phosphorylation may contribute to the functional diversity of bHLH-O proteins.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Arjun Rajan, Lucas Anhezini, Noemi Rives-Quinto, Jay Y. Chhabra, Megan C. Neville, Elizabeth D. Larson, Stephen F. Goodwin, Melissa M. Harrison, Cheng-Yu Lee
Summary: The coordinated regulation of gene activity through transcriptional and translational mechanisms allows stem cells to undergo timely cell-state transitions during differentiation. In this study, the researchers investigated the fine-tuning of gene transcription in fly neural stem cells during the commitment of intermediate neural progenitors. They found that a transcription factor called Fruitless(C) (Fru(C)) binds to cis-regulatory elements of genes that are uniquely transcribed in neural stem cells. The researchers demonstrated that Fru(C) negatively regulates gene expression by promoting low-level enrichment of the repressive histone mark H3K27me3 in the cis-regulatory regions of genes. They propose that this low-level enrichment of H3K27me3 fine-tunes gene transcription in stem cells, a mechanism that may be conserved from flies to humans.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Rashmi Sipani, Rohit Joshi
Summary: Hox genes encode transcription factors that help specify the development of the anterior-posterior axis of an organism by interacting with TALE-HD containing factors. In the central nervous system of fruit flies, Hox genes play a role in segment-specific apoptosis of neural stem cells and neurons. This study identified a critical apoptotic enhancer and demonstrated the importance of the DNA-binding specificity of Abdominal-A-homeodomain for its interaction with Grainyhead and the execution of neuroblast apoptosis. Furthermore, Grainyhead was found to be a required cofactor for Hox-dependent neuroblast apoptosis in specific regions of the central nervous system.
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
Developmental Biology
Andreia C. Oliveira, Catarina C. F. Homem
Summary: This study demonstrates how neural stem cells coordinate their division rate with the pace of body growth, and identifies the important role of the steroid hormone ecdysone in regulating neuroblast division and maintaining the number of differentiated neurons.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Rui Chen, Yanjun Hou, Marisa Connell, Sijun Zhu
Summary: INPs are crucial for determining the size and complexity of the brain, but the mechanisms underlying their maintenance and differentiation are not fully understood. This study identifies Six4 as a novel factor that prevents the generation of extra neural stem cells and premature differentiation of INPs in developing fruit fly brains, providing insights into the regulation of INP development and implications for abnormal brain development.
Article
Cell Biology
Eleni Dapergola, Pamela Menegazzi, Thomas Raabe, Anna Hovhanyan
Summary: Endogenous clocks regulate cellular processes, metabolism, and behavior, with dysregulation leading to metabolic disorders. In mouse and Drosophila, the circadian clock influences ribosome biogenesis factors and protein synthesis. Nutrition signals modulate cellular metabolism and growth through the InR/TOR pathways. disruptions to the circadian clock affect neural stem cell growth and proliferation, impacting ribosomal biogenesis and protein biosynthesis regulators.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Heather Q. Pollington, Austin Q. Seroka, Chris Q. Doe
Summary: This article reviews the progress made in understanding how Drosophila stem cells generate distinct neurons through the expression of specific temporal transcription factors. These factors play a crucial role in specifying the birth order and temporal identity of neurons. The study also highlights the importance of these mechanisms in promoting proper circuit assembly within the central nervous system.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Emilia Skafida, Christos Delidakis, Maria Monastirioti
Summary: Hey gene plays an important role in the development of enteroendocrine cells in Drosophila, with its expression regulated by Notch signaling. It peaks in early embryonic development, gradually downregulates afterwards, but remains detectable at low levels post-hatching. The expression of Hey is closely associated with the differentiation of enteroendocrine cells and the Notch signaling pathway.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Chhavi Sood, Virginia T. Justis, Susan E. Doyle, Sarah E. Siegrist
Summary: Notch signaling coordinates neuroblast intrinsic temporal programs with extrinsic nutrient cues to regulate quiescence in fruit flies. Reduction in Notch activity delays or bypasses quiescence, resulting in continuous neuroblast division. Notch and its ligand Delta are expressed in neuroblasts before entering quiescence, and Delta transactivates Notch in adjacent GMC daughters. Over time and with increasing Delta-expressing daughters, neuroblast Notch activity increases, leading to cell cycle exit and attenuation of Notch pathway activity in quiescent neuroblasts.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shrikant Sharma, Giuseppe Dionisio, Inger B. Holme, Tsaneta Dzhanfezova, Bjarne Joernsgaard, Henrik Brinch-Pedersen
Summary: Black carrots are rich sources of acylated anthocyanins, with different cultivars having varying active transcription factors responsible for anthocyanin production. Through isolating novel DcMYB113_NB and DcEGL1_NB from 'Nightbird', researchers confirmed their role in regulating anthocyanin production.
PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anja C. Nagel, Dominik Mueller, Mirjam Zimmermann, Anette Preiss
Summary: The membrane-bound Notch regulator (Mnr) supports Notch signaling by promoting the cleavage of the Notch receptor, which in turn enhances Notch receptor activation. Overexpression of Mnr stimulates γ-secretase activity, while knockdown of Mnr inhibits this activity, demonstrating Mnr as a positive regulator of Notch signaling.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mehmet Neset ozel, Felix Simon, Shadi Jafari, Isabel Holguera, Yen-Chung Chen, Najate Benhra, Rana Naja El-Danaf, Katarina Kapuralin, Jennifer Amy Malin, Nikolaos Konstantinides, Claude Desplan
Summary: Deciphering neuronal diversity in the Drosophila optic lobe during pupal development reveals transient extrinsic neurons and dorsoventral asymmetry in visual circuits.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Torcato Martins, Yao Meng, Boguslawa Korona, Richard Suckling, Steven Johnson, Penny A. Handford, Susan M. Lea, Sarah J. Bray
Summary: Accurate Notch signalling is crucial for development and homeostasis, with recent studies showing the importance of the conserved N-terminal C2 domain in Notch ligands. Mutations in the beta 1-2 loop of the Delta C2 domain affect phospholipid binding and compromise ligand function in vivo. These findings highlight the essential role of C2 domain phospholipid binding in fine-tuning the balance of trans and cis ligand-receptor interactions for robust signalling.
Article
Biology
Bharath Sunchu, Nicole MynYi Lee, Jennifer A. Taylor, Roberto Carlos Segura, Chantal Roubinet, Clemens Cabernard
Summary: In this study, a hybrid fly cell model was used to investigate the recognition and segregation of chromosomes of different origins. The findings suggest that alignment and separation of endogenous and ectopic chromatin in neural stem cell and ganglion mother cell hybrid cells is facilitated by centrosomes and spindles, as well as microtubule-dependent chromatin retention and nuclear envelope boundaries.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Evanthia Zacharioudaki, Benjamin E. Housden, George Garinis, Robert Stojnic, Christos Delidakis, Sarah J. Bray
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anastasios Alexiadis, Christos Delidakis, Kriton Kalantidis
Article
Biology
Nicole Berndt, Ekaterina Seib, Soya Kim, Tobias Troost, Marvin Lyga, Jessica Langenbach, Sebastian Haensch, Konstantina Kalodimou, Christos Delidakis, Thomas Klein
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rohan J. Khadilkar, Arindam Ray, D. R. Chetan, Arghyashree RoyChowdhury Sinha, Srivathsa S. Magadi, Vani Kulkarni, Maneesha S. Inamdar
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2017)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Pawel Piwko, Ilektra Vitsaki, Ioannis Livadaras, Christos Delidakis
Article
Developmental Biology
Shiyun Feng, Evanthia Zacharioudaki, Kat Millen, Sarah J. Bray
NEURAL DEVELOPMENT
(2020)
Article
Developmental Biology
Srivathsa S. Magadi, Chrysanthi Voutyraki, Gerasimos Anagnostopoulos, Evanthia Zacharioudaki, Ioanna K. Poutakidou, Christina Efraimoglou, Margarita Stapountzi, Vasiliki Theodorou, Christoforos Nikolaou, Konstantinos A. Koumbanakis, John F. Fullard, Christos Delidakis
Article
Developmental Biology
Chrysanthi Voutyraki, Alexandros Choromidis, Vasiliki Theodorou, Christina Efraimoglou, Gerasimos Anagnostopoulos, Srivathsa S. Magadi, Sofia Grammenoudi, Evanthia Zacharioudaki, Christos Delidakis
Summary: The study demonstrates the crucial role of Hes genes in the malignant transformation of neural stem cells, affecting the expression of transcription factors and tumor growth. Extensive experiments reveal the significant involvement of E(spl) genes in the pathogenesis of Notch signaling.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Alana M. Thackray, Brian Lam, Erin E. McNulty, Amy Nalls, Candace K. Mathiason, Srivathsa Subramanya Magadi, Walker S. Jackson, Olivier Andreoletti, Cristobal Marrero-Winkens, Hermann Schatzl, Raymond Bujdoso
Summary: This study finds that increased activity of the Hsp70 protein disaggregase system can clear human prions and neurotoxicity, establishing it as a potential therapeutic target for human prion disease.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lovisa Oerkenby, Signe Skog, Helen Ekman, Alessandro Gozzo, Unn Kugelberg, Rashmi Ramesh, Srivathsa Magadi, Gianluca Zambanini, Anna Nordin, Claudio Cantu, Daniel Naett, Anita Oest
Summary: Early-life stress can lead to long-term effects on adult health and disease risk, and this study reveals that these effects can be initiated in Drosophila embryos before the main wave of zygotic transcription. The researchers found that a short heat shock in early embryos resulted in changes in maternal miRNA and the expression of certain genes. They propose that maternal miRNAs, retained in response to an early embryonic heat shock, play a role in shaping the establishment of heterochromatin during early development.
MOLECULAR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chrysanthi Voutyraki, Alexandros Choromidis, Anastasia Meligkounaki, Nikolaos Andreas Vlachopoulos, Vasiliki Theodorou, Sofia Grammenoudi, Emmanouil Athanasiadis, Sara Monticelli, Angela Giangrande, Christos Delidakis, Evanthia Zacharioudaki
Summary: This study provides new insights into the interaction between a neural stem cell tumor and its microenvironment in Drosophila. The tumor growth is influenced by intrinsic factors in the tumor cells and the presence of phagocytic blood cells in the host, which can both promote and restrict tumor growth respectively.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biology
Evanthia Zacharioudaki, Julia Falo Sanjuan, Sarah Bray