The Drosophila miti-mere gene, a member of the POU family, is required for the specification of the RP2/sibling lineage during neurogenesis

Development ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 120 (6) ◽  
pp. 1483-1501 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.M. Bhat ◽  
P. Schedl
Keyword(s):  
Early Development ◽  
Mother Cell ◽  
Temporal Pattern ◽  
Temperature Shift ◽  
Asymmetric Division ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Hsp70 Promoter ◽  
Gap Gene ◽  
Ganglion Mother Cell

The Drosophila POU gene miti-mere (previously known as pdm2) has a complex spatial and temporal pattern of expression during early development; initially it is expressed in gap-gene-like pattern, then in 14 stripes and finally in a subset of the cells in the developing CNS and PNS. To study the function of this gene during development, we generated a ‘synthetic anti-morphic mutation’ by expressing a truncated version of the miti protein from a constitutive hsp83 and an inducible hsp70 promoter. We show that these delta miti transgenes behave like classical antimorphic mutations. Using these dominant negative transgenes, together with deletions and a duplication for the gene, we show that miti is required during segmentation and neurogenesis. We have also used temperature-shift experiments with the hsp70 delta miti transgene to demonstrate that miti function in segmentation is distinct and separable from its function during neurogenesis. In segmentation, miti appears to be required in the specification of the segments A2 and A6. In the CNS, miti is required for the elaboration of the NB4-2-->GMC-1-->RP2/sib lineage. miti is initially required in this lineage to establish the identity of the parental ganglion mother cell, GMC-1. miti must then be down-regulated to allow the asymmetric division of GMC-1 into the RP2 and its sibling cell.

The endocytic adaptor Numb regulates thymus size by modulating pre-TCR signaling during asymmetric division

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (10) ◽  
pp. 1705-1714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocio Aguado ◽  
Nadia Martin-Blanco ◽  
Michael Caraballo ◽  
Matilde Canelles
Keyword(s):  
Cell Fate ◽  
Asymmetric Division ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Thymocyte Development ◽  
Tcr Signaling ◽  
Daughter Cells ◽  
Fate Determinants ◽  
Cell Fate Determinants

Abstract Stem cells must proliferate and differentiate to generate the lineages that shape mature organs; understanding these 2 processes and their interaction is one of the central themes in current biomedicine. An intriguing aspect is asymmetric division, by which 2 daughter cells with different fates are generated. Several cell fate determinants participate in asymmetric division, with the endocytic adaptor Numb as the best-known example. Here, we have explored the role of asymmetric division in thymocyte development, visualizing the differential segregation of Numb and pre-TCR in thymic precursors. Analysis of mice where Numb had been inhibited by expressing a dominant negative revealed enhanced pre–T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling and a smaller thymus. Conversely, Numb overexpression resulted in loss of asymmetric division and a larger thymus. The conclusion is that Numb determines the levels of pre-TCR signaling in dividing thymocytes and, ultimately, the size of the pool from which mature T lymphocytes are selected.

scholarly journals Expression of spoIIIJ in the Prespore Is Sufficient for Activation of σG and for Sporulation in Bacillus subtilis

2003 ◽  
Vol 185 (13) ◽  
pp. 3905-3917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica Serrano ◽  
Luísa Côrte ◽  
Jason Opdyke ◽  
Charles P. Moran, ◽  
Adriano O. Henriques
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Sigma Factor ◽  
Vegetative Growth ◽  
Mother Cell ◽  
Asymmetric Division ◽  
Developmental Program ◽  
Inactive Form

ABSTRACT During sporulation in Bacillus subtilis, the prespore-specific developmental program is initiated soon after asymmetric division of the sporangium by the compartment-specific activation of RNA polymerase sigma factor σF. σF directs transcription of spoIIIG, encoding the late forespore-specific regulator σG. Following synthesis, σG is initially kept in an inactive form, presumably because it is bound to the SpoIIAB anti-sigma factor. Activation of σG occurs only after the complete engulfment of the prespore by the mother cell. Mutations in spoIIIJ arrest sporulation soon after conclusion of the engulfment process and prevent activation of σG. Here we show that σG accumulates but is mostly inactive in a spoIIIJ mutant. We also show that expression of the spoIIIGE155K allele, encoding a form of σG that is not efficiently bound by SpoIIAB in vitro, restores σG-directed gene expression to a spoIIIJ mutant. Expression of spoIIIJ occurs during vegetative growth. However, we show that expression of spoIIIJ in the prespore is sufficient for σG activation and for sporulation. Mutations in the mother cell-specific spoIIIA locus are known to arrest sporulation just after completion of the engulfment process. Previous work has also shown that σG accumulates in an inactive form in spoIIIA mutants and that the need for spoIIIA expression for σG activation can be circumvented by the spoIIIGE155K allele. However, in contrast to the case for spoIIIJ, we show that expression of spoIIIA in the prespore does not support efficient sporulation. The results suggest that the activation of σG at the end of the engulfment process involves the action of spoIIIA from the mother cell and of spoIIIJ from the prespore.

scholarly journals Novel spoIIE Mutation That Causes Uncompartmentalized σF Activation in Bacillus subtilis

2003 ◽  
Vol 185 (5) ◽  
pp. 1590-1598 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Hilbert ◽  
Patrick J. Piggot
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Mother Cell ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Asymmetric Division ◽  
Small Subset ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Specific Transcription Factor ◽  
Fold Reduction ◽  
Optimal Efficiency

ABSTRACT During sporulation, Bacillus subtilis undergoes an asymmetric division that results in two cells with different fates, the larger mother cell and the smaller forespore. The protein phosphatase SpoIIE, which is required for activation of the forespore-specific transcription factor σF, is also required for optimal efficiency and timing of asymmetric division. We performed a genetic screen for spoIIE mutants that were impaired in sporulation but not σF activity and isolated a strain with the mutation spoIIEV697A. The mutant exhibited a 10- to 40-fold reduction in sporulation and a sixfold reduction in asymmetric division compared to the parent. Transcription of the σF-dependent spoIIQ promoter was increased more than 10-fold and was no longer confined to the forespore. The excessive σF activity persisted even when asymmetric division was prevented. Disruption of spoIIGB did not restore asymmetric division to the spoIIEV697A mutant, indicating that the deficiency is not a consequence of predivisional activation of the mother cell-specific transcription factor σE. Deletion of the gene encoding σF (spoIIAC) restored asymmetric division; however, a mutation that dramatically reduced the number of promoters responsive to σF, spoIIAC561 (spoIIACV233 M), failed to do so. This result suggests that the block is due to expression of one of the small subset of σF-dependent genes expressed in this background or to unregulated interaction of σF with some other factor. Our results indicate that regulation of SpoIIE plays a critical role in coupling asymmetric division to σF activation in order to ensure proper spatial and temporal expression of forespore-specific genes.

scholarly journals Desarrollo del gametofito femenino de Tagetes patula (Asteraceae)

2017 ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Marcelina García-Aguilar ◽  
E. Mark Engleman ◽  
Eulogio Pimienta-Barrios
Keyword(s):  
Seed Development ◽  
Early Development ◽  
Mother Cell ◽  
Megaspore Mother Cell ◽  
Embryo Sac ◽  
Tagetes Patula ◽  
Polygonum Type ◽  
Chalazal Megaspore ◽  
The Family ◽  
Apomictic Reproduction

The genus Tagetes reproduces sexually by seed, but recent morphological and hybridization studies in Tagetes patula suggest an apomictic type of reproduction (seed development without fertilization). In order to determine the sexual or apomictic origen of the embryo, we have studied megasporogenesis, megagametogenesis and the early development of the embryo. Tagetes patula L. has a typical ovule for the family Asteraceae: anatropous, unitegmic, tenuinucellate and with basal placentation. A single hypodermal archesporial cell develops directly as the megaspore mother cell. Megaspogenesis is normal and embryo sac develops from the chalazal megaspore. The embryo sac is of the Polygonum type. Female ray flowers show irregularities in megagametophyte development such as formation of more than eight nuclei, inverted polarity and incomplete differentiation of the megagametophyte cells in mature flowers. These irregularities do not necessarily prove apomictic reproduction in Tagetes patula.

A functional analysis of inscuteable and its roles during Drosophila asymmetric cell divisions

1999 ◽  
Vol 112 (10) ◽  
pp. 1541-1551 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Tio ◽  
M. Zavortink ◽  
X. Yang ◽  
W. Chia
Keyword(s):  
Cell Fate ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Mother Cell ◽  
Apical Cell ◽  
Cell Cortex ◽  
Asymmetric Cell Divisions ◽  
Cell Divisions ◽  
Asymmetric Divisions ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient ◽  
Ganglion Mother Cell

Cellular diversity in the Drosophila central nervous system is generated through a series of asymmetric cell divisions in which one progenitor produces two daughter cells with distinct fates. Asymmetric basal cortical localisation and segregation of the determinant Prospero during neuroblast cell divisions play a crucial role in effecting distinct cell fates for the progeny sibling neuroblast and ganglion mother cell. Similarly asymmetric localisation and segregation of the determinant Numb during ganglion mother cell divisions ensure that the progeny sibling neurons attain distinct fates. The most upstream component identified so far which acts to organise both neuroblast and ganglion mother cell asymmetric divisions is encoded by inscuteable. The Inscuteable protein is itself asymmetrically localised to the apical cell cortex and is required both for the basal localisation of the cell fate determinants during mitosis and for the orientation of the mitotic spindle along the apical/basal axis. Here we define the functional domains of Inscuteable. We show that aa252-578 appear sufficient to effect all aspects of its function, however, the precise requirements for its various functions differ. The region, aa288-497, is necessary and sufficient for apical cortical localisation and for mitotic spindle (re)orientation along the apical/basal axis. A larger region aa288-540 is necessary and sufficient for asymmetric Numb localisation and segregation; however, correct localisation of Miranda and Prospero requires additional sequences from aa540-578. The requirement for the resolution of distinct sibling neuronal fates appears to coincide with the region necessary and sufficient for Numb localisation (aa288-540). Our data suggest that apical localisation of the Inscuteable protein is a necessary prerequisite for all other aspects of its function. Finally, we show that although inscuteable RNA is normally apically localised, RNA localisation is not required for protein localisation or any aspects of inscuteable function.

Cell fate specification by even-skipped expression in the Drosophila nervous system is coupled to cell cycle progression

Development ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 121 (11) ◽  
pp. 3713-3721 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Weigmann ◽  
C.F. Lehner
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Mother Cell ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
S Phase ◽  
Cell Fate Specification ◽  
Cycle Progression ◽  
Fate Specification ◽  
Ganglion Mother Cell

The correct specification of defined neurons in the Drosophila central nervous system is dependent on even-skipped. During CNS development, even-skipped expression starts in the ganglion mother cell resulting from the first asymmetric division of neuroblast NB 1–1. This first division of NB 1–1 (and of the other early neuroblasts as well) is temporally controlled by the transcriptional regulation of string expression, which we have manipulated experimentally, even-skipped expression still occurs if the first neuroblast division is delayed, but not if the division is prohibited. Moreover, even-skipped expression is also dependent on progression through S phase which follows immediately after the first division. However, cytokinesis during the first NB division is not required for even-skipped expression as revealed by observations in pebble mutant embryos. Our results demonstrate therefore that even-skipped expression is coupled to cell cycle progression, presumably in order to prevent a premature activation of expression by a positive regulator which is produced already in the neuroblast during G2 and segregated asymmetrically into the ganglion mother cell during mitosis.

Individual differences, social attention, and the history of the social motivation hypotheses of autism

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter C. Mundy
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Early Development ◽  
Emotional Development ◽  
Social Motivation ◽  
Social Attention ◽  
Social Emotional Development ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Precise Understanding ◽  
The Social ◽  
History Of

Abstract The stereotype of people with autism as unresponsive or uninterested in other people was prominent in the 1980s. However, this view of autism has steadily given way to recognition of important individual differences in the social-emotional development of affected people and a more precise understanding of the possible role social motivation has in their early development.

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