scholarly journals miRNA suppression of a Notch repressor directs non-neuronal fate in Drosophila mechanosensory organs

2017 ◽  
Vol 217 (2) ◽  
pp. 571-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Kavaler ◽  
Hong Duan ◽  
Rajaguru Aradhya ◽  
Luis F. de Navas ◽  
Brian Joseph ◽  
...  

Although there is abundant evidence that individual microRNA (miRNA) loci repress large cohorts of targets, large-scale knockout studies suggest that most miRNAs are phenotypically dispensable. Here, we identify a rare case of developmental cell specification that is highly dependent on miRNA control of an individual target. We observe that binary cell fate choice in the Drosophila melanogaster peripheral sensory organ lineage is controlled by the non-neuronally expressed mir-279/996 cluster, with a majority of notum sensory organs exhibiting transformation of sheath cells into ectopic neurons. The mir-279/996 defect phenocopies Notch loss of function during the sheath–neuron cell fate decision, suggesting the miRNAs facilitate Notch signaling. Consistent with this, mir-279/996 knockouts are strongly enhanced by Notch heterozygosity, and activated nuclear Notch is impaired in the miRNA mutant. Although Hairless (H) is the canonical nuclear Notch pathway inhibitor, and H heterozygotes exhibit bristle cell fate phenotypes reflecting gain-of-Notch signaling, H/+ does not rescue mir-279/996 mutants. Instead, we identify Insensible (Insb), another neural nuclear Notch pathway inhibitor, as a critical direct miR-279/996 target. Insb is posttranscriptionally restricted to neurons by these miRNAs, and its heterozygosity strongly suppresses ectopic peripheral nervous system neurons in mir-279/996 mutants. Thus, proper assembly of multicellular mechanosensory organs requires a double-negative circuit involving miRNA-mediated suppression of a Notch repressor to assign non-neuronal cell fate.

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 4161-4161
Author(s):  
Caroline Erter Burns ◽  
Leonard I. Zon

Abstract Vertebrate hematopoiesis can be divided into two embryonic phases: a short primitive wave predominantly generating erythrocytes and a definitive (fetal/adult) wave producing long-term hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). The definitive wave occurs in the embryonic aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region through the asymmetric induction of HSCs from the ventral, but not dorsal, aortic endothelial wall. Since Notch signaling is critical for orchestrating a variety of developmental cell fate choices from invertebrates to humans and has been implicated in affecting the differentiation of some hematopoietic lineages, we analyzed whether the Notch pathway regulates definitive HSC induction in vivo. The zebrafish mutant mindbomb harbors a mutation in an essential E3 ligase that ubiquitylates Delta, which in turn allows the Notch intercellular domain to be released and activate downstream target gene transcription. Thus, in the absence of Mindbomb function Notch signaling does not occur. We found that although mindbomb mutants show normal primitive hematopoiesis, definitive c-myb and runx1 HSC expression is lacking. Since embryos injected with synthetic morpholinos designed to inhibit proper splicing of runx1 RNA ( runx morphants) show the same hematopoietic phenotype as mindbomb mutants, we next addressed the epistatic relationship between notch and runx1 using classic gain-of-function and loss-of-function analyses. In runx1 morphants expression of a notch receptor, notch3, and a delta ligand, deltaC, in the developing dorsal aorta was normal. Moreover, injection of runx1 RNA rescued HSCs in the AGM of mindbomb mutants. Together, these results suggest that Runx1 functions downstream of Notch in promoting HSC fate. We next analyzed whether a constitutively activated form of Notch (NICD) is sufficient for HSC specification in the AGM using an inducible binary transgenic system. Zebrafish carrying the heat-shock promoter driving the activator gal4 were mated to animals carrying 6 gal4 -responsive tandem upstream activating sequences (UAS) driving NICD. At the 10 somite-stage the embryos were heat-shocked at 37°C for 1 hour to activate NICD throughout the double transgenic animals. Surprisingly, expression of both HSC markers, c-myb and runx1, were expanded from their normal restricted domain in the ventral endothelium to the entire circumference of the dorsal aorta. Most interestingly, the presence of ectopic c-myb and runx1 transcripts were observed in the developing post-cardinal vein, a vessel that normally does not produce HSCs. These data imply that activation of the Notch pathway generates increased numbers of HSCs in vivo. When runx1 RNA is injected into wild-type embryos a similar expansion of c-myb transcripts is seen throughout the entire dorsal aorta and post-cardinal vein, further indicating that Runx1 functions downstream of Notch in HSC induction. In summary, discovery of the molecular programs essential and sufficient for fetal/adult hematopoietic ontogeny will lead to a further understanding of the physiologic and pathologic processes regulating stem cell homeostasis and translate into more effective therapies for blood disorders.


Genetics ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 152 (2) ◽  
pp. 567-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Cornell ◽  
D A P Evans ◽  
R Mann ◽  
M Fostier ◽  
M Flasza ◽  
...  

Abstract During development, the Notch receptor regulates many cell fate decisions by a signaling pathway that has been conserved during evolution. One positive regulator of Notch is Deltex, a cytoplasmic, zinc finger domain protein, which binds to the intracellular domain of Notch. Phenotypes resulting from mutations in deltex resemble loss-of-function Notch phenotypes and are suppressed by the mutation Suppressor of deltex [Su(dx)]. Homozygous Su(dx) mutations result in wing-vein phenotypes and interact genetically with Notch pathway genes. We have previously defined Su(dx) genetically as a negative regulator of Notch signaling. Here we present the molecular identification of the Su(dx) gene product. Su(dx) belongs to a family of E3 ubiquitin ligase proteins containing membrane-targeting C2 domains and WW domains that mediate protein-protein interactions through recognition of proline-rich peptide sequences. We have identified a seven-codon deletion in a Su(dx) mutant allele and we show that expression of Su(dx) cDNA rescues Su(dx) mutant phenotypes. Overexpression of Su(dx) also results in ectopic vein differentiation, wing margin loss, and wing growth phenotypes and enhances the phenotypes of loss-of-function mutations in Notch, evidence that supports the conclusion that Su(dx) has a role in the downregulation of Notch signaling.


Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 150 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahiro J Go ◽  
Spyros Artavanis-Tsakonas

Abstract The Notch receptor is the central element in a cell signaling mechanism controlling a broad spectrum of cell fate choices. Genetic modifier screens in Drosophila and subsequent molecular studies have identified several Notch pathway components, but the biochemical nature of signaling is still elusive. Here, we report the results of a genetic modifier screen of the bristle phenotype of a gain-of-function Notch allele, Abruptex16. Abruptex mutations interfere with lateral inhibition/specification events that control the segregation of epidermal and sensory organ precursor lineages, thus inhibiting bristle formation. Mutations that reduce Notch signaling suppress this phenotype. This screen of approximately 50,000 flies led to the identification of a small number of dominant suppressors in seven complementation groups. These include known components in the pathway, Notch, mastermind, Delta, and Hairless, as well as two novel mutations. The first, A122, appears to interact with Notch only during bristle development. The other, M285, displays extensive genetic interactions with the Notch pathway elements and appears, in general, capable of suppressing Notch gain-of-function phenotypes while enhancing Notch loss-of-function phenotypes, suggesting that it plays an important role in Notch signaling.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 521
Author(s):  
Catia Giovannini ◽  
Francesca Fornari ◽  
Fabio Piscaglia ◽  
Laura Gramantieri

The Notch family includes evolutionary conserved genes that encode for single-pass transmembrane receptors involved in stem cell maintenance, development and cell fate determination of many cell lineages. Upon activation by different ligands, and depending on the cell type, Notch signaling plays pleomorphic roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) affecting neoplastic growth, invasion capability and stem like properties. A specific knowledge of the deregulated expression of each Notch receptor and ligand, coupled with resultant phenotypic changes, is still lacking in HCC. Therefore, while interfering with Notch signaling might represent a promising therapeutic approach, the complexity of Notch/ligands interactions and the variable consequences of their modulations raises concerns when performed in undefined molecular background. The gamma-secretase inhibitors (GSIs), representing the most utilized approach for Notch inhibition in clinical trials, are characterized by important adverse effects due to the non-specific nature of GSIs themselves and to the lack of molecular criteria guiding patient selection. In this review, we briefly summarize the mechanisms involved in Notch pathway activation in HCC supporting the development of alternatives to the γ-secretase pan-inhibitor for HCC therapy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yildiz Koca ◽  
Benjamin E. Housden ◽  
William J. Gault ◽  
Sarah J. Bray ◽  
Marek Mlodzik

AbstractIn all metazoans, a small number of evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways are reiteratively used during development to orchestrate critical patterning and morphogenetic processes. Among these, Notch (N) signaling is essential for most aspects of tissue patterning where it mediates the communication between adjacent cells to control cell fate specification. In Drosophila, Notch signaling is required for several features of eye development, including the R3/R4 cell fate choice and R7 specification. Here we show that hypomorphic alleles of Notch, belonging to the Nfacet class, reveal a novel phenotype: while photoreceptor specification in the mutant ommatidia is largely normal, defects are observed in ommatidial rotation (OR), a planar cell polarity (PCP)-mediated cell motility process. We demonstrate that during OR Notch signaling is specifically required in the R4 photoreceptor to upregulate the transcription of argos (aos), an inhibitory ligand to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), to fine-tune the activity of EGFR signaling. Consistently, the loss-of-function defects of Nfacet alleles and EGFR-signaling pathway mutants are largely indistinguishable. A Notch-regulated aos enhancer confers R4 specific expression arguing that aos is directly regulated by Notch signaling in this context via Su(H)-Mam-dependent transcription.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (4) ◽  
pp. 1154-1162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zheng ◽  
Tuomas Tammela ◽  
Masahiro Yamamoto ◽  
Andrey Anisimov ◽  
Tanja Holopainen ◽  
...  

Abstract Notch signaling plays a central role in cell-fate determination, and its role in lateral inhibition in angiogenic sprouting is well established. However, the role of Notch signaling in lymphangiogenesis, the growth of lymphatic vessels, is poorly understood. Here we demonstrate Notch pathway activity in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), as well as induction of delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) and Notch target genes on stimulation with VEGF or VEGF-C. Suppression of Notch signaling by a soluble form of Dll4 (Dll4-Fc) synergized with VEGF in inducing LEC sprouting in 3-dimensional (3D) fibrin gel assays. Expression of Dll4-Fc in adult mouse ears promoted lymphangiogenesis, which was augmented by coexpressing VEGF. Lymphangiogenesis triggered by Notch inhibition was suppressed by a monoclonal VEGFR-2 Ab as well as soluble VEGF and VEGF-C/VEGF-D ligand traps. LECs transduced with Dll4 preferentially adopted the tip cell position over nontransduced cells in 3D sprouting assays, suggesting an analogous role for Dll4/Notch in lymphatic and blood vessel sprouting. These results indicate that the Notch pathway controls lymphatic endothelial quiescence, and explain why LECs are poorly responsive to VEGF compared with VEGF-C. Understanding the role of the Notch pathway in lymphangiogenesis provides further insight for the therapeutic manipulation of the lymphatic vessels.


Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Guarani ◽  
Franck Dequiedt ◽  
Andreas M Zeiher ◽  
Stefanie Dimmeler ◽  
Michael Potente

The Notch signaling pathway is a versatile regulator of cell fate decisions and plays an essential role for embryonic and postnatal vascular development. As only modest differences in Notch pathway activity suffice to determine dramatic differences in blood vessel development, this pathway is tightly regulated by a variety of molecular mechanisms. Reversible acetylation has emerged as an important post-translational modification of several non-histone proteins, which are targeted by histone deacetylases (HDACs). Here, we report that specifically the Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD) is itself an acetylated protein and that its acetylation level is tightly regulated by the SIRT1 deacetylase, which we have previously identified as a key regulator of endothelial angiogenic functions during vascular growth. Coexpression of NICD with histone acetyltransferases such as p300 or PCAF induced a dose- and time-dependent acetylation of NICD. Blocking HDAC activity using the class III HDAC inhibitor nicotinamid (NAM), but not the class I/II HDAC inhibior trichostatin A, resulted in a significant increase of NICD acetylation suggesting that NICD is targetd by class III HDACs for deacetylation. Among the class III HDACs with deacetylase activity (SIRT1, 2, 3, 5), knock down of specifically SIRT1 resulted in enhanced acetylation of NICD. Moreover, wild type SIRT1, but not a catalytically inactive mutant catalyzed the deacetylation of NICD in a nicotinamid-dependent manner. SIRT1, but SIRT2, SIRT3 or SIRT5, associated with NICD through its catalytic domain demonstrating that SIRT1 is a direct NICD deacetylase. Enhancing NICD acetylation by either overexpression of p300 or inhibition of SIRT1 activity using NAM or RNAi-mediated knock down resulted in enhanced NICD protein stability by blocking its ubiquitin-mediated degradation. Consistent with these results, loss of SIRT1 amplified Notch target gene expression in endothelial cells in response to NICD overexpression or treatment with the Notch ligand Dll4. In summary, our results identify reversible acetylation of NICD as a novel molecular mechanism to control Notch signaling and suggest that deacetylation of NICD by SIRT1 plays a key role in the dynamic regulation of Notch signaling in endothelial cells.


Haematologica ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 96 (12) ◽  
pp. 1753-1760 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Bugeon ◽  
H. B. Taylor ◽  
F. Progatzky ◽  
M. I. Lin ◽  
C. D. Ellis ◽  
...  

Development ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 127 (17) ◽  
pp. 3865-3876
Author(s):  
M.S. Rones ◽  
K.A. McLaughlin ◽  
M. Raffin ◽  
M. Mercola

Notch signaling mediates numerous developmental cell fate decisions in organisms ranging from flies to humans, resulting in the generation of multiple cell types from equipotential precursors. In this paper, we present evidence that activation of Notch by its ligand Serrate apportions myogenic and non-myogenic cell fates within the early Xenopus heart field. The crescent-shaped field of heart mesoderm is specified initially as cardiomyogenic. While the ventral region of the field forms the myocardial tube, the dorsolateral portions lose myogenic potency and form the dorsal mesocardium and pericardial roof (Raffin, M., Leong, L. M., Rones, M. S., Sparrow, D., Mohun, T. and Mercola, M. (2000) Dev. Biol., 218, 326–340). The local interactions that establish or maintain the distinct myocardial and non-myocardial domains have never been described. Here we show that Xenopus Notch1 (Xotch) and Serrate1 are expressed in overlapping patterns in the early heart field. Conditional activation or inhibition of the Notch pathway with inducible dominant negative or active forms of the RBP-J/Suppressor of Hairless [Su(H)] transcription factor indicated that activation of Notch feeds back on Serrate1 gene expression to localize transcripts more dorsolaterally than those of Notch1, with overlap in the region of the developing mesocardium. Moreover, Notch pathway activation decreased myocardial gene expression and increased expression of a marker of the mesocardium and pericardial roof, whereas inhibition of Notch signaling had the opposite effect. Activation or inhibition of Notch also regulated contribution of individual cells to the myocardium. Importantly, expression of Nkx2. 5 and Gata4 remained largely unaffected, indicating that Notch signaling functions downstream of heart field specification. We conclude that Notch signaling through Su(H) suppresses cardiomyogenesis and that this activity is essential for the correct specification of myocardial and non-myocardial cell fates.


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