Dedifferentiating germ cells regain stem-cell specific polarity checkpoint prior to niche reentry
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Abstract
In the Drosophila germline stem cell system, maintenance of the stem cell pool requires “dedifferentiation”, in which differentiating cells reattach to the niche and reacquire stem cell properties. However, the mechanism of dedifferentiation remains poorly understood. Here, using long-term live imaging, we show that dedifferentiated cells immediately re-enter mitosis with correct spindle orientation after reattachment to the niche. Analysis of cell cycle markers revealed that these dedifferentiating cells are all in G2 phase. In addition, we found that the observed G2 block during dedifferentiation likely corresponds to a centrosome orientation checkpoint (COC), a previously reported polarity checkpoint. We show that re-activation of a COC is likely required for the dedifferentiation thus ensuring asymmetric division even in dedifferentiated stem cells. Taken together, our study demonstrates the remarkable ability of dedifferentiating cells to reacquire the ability to divide asymmetrically.
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G2 phase
I wonder if the G2 arrest is a functional requirement for re-attachment? It seems like it is likely, but has anyone ever mis-expressed a cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor (dacapo?) in the GSCs to lock them into G1/G0 and assess their ability to dock? I'm not sure how technically feasible this experiment is - it also might get at my earlier question as to whether or not the returning GBs need to be in G2 to migrate back?
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dedifferentiating gonialblast
from your movie it looks like the GB is also migrating in G2? Is this always the case? That they might be undergoing a prolonged G2 arrest - that might be important for their migration too? There is some really interesting examples in the literature of cells that need to be in certain cell cycle states to execute specific morphogenetic behaviors - it would be interesting if this migration is one of these too!
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Note that G1 phase was not detectable.
Is this due to the G1 phase being too short for the time interval for imaging?
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red)
consider showing this figure in green:magenta to make it easier to interpret for color blind individuals
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