Jak-STAT regulation of male germline stem cell establishment during Drosophila embryogenesis

X. Rebecca Sheng, Trevor Posenau, Juliann J. Gumulak-Smith, Erika Matunis, Mark Van Doren, Matthew Wawersik

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Scopus citations

Abstract

Germline stem cells (GSCs) in Drosophila are descendants of primordial germ cells (PGCs) specified during embryogenesis. The precise timing of GSC establishment in the testis has not been determined, nor is it known whether mechanisms that control GSC maintenance in the adult are involved in GSC establishment. Here, we determine that PGCs in the developing male gonad first become GSCs at the embryo to larval transition. This coincides with formation of the embryonic hub; the critical signaling center that regulates adult GSC behavior within the stem cell microenvironment (niche). We find that the Jak-STAT signaling pathway is activated in a subset of PGCs that associate with the newly-formed embryonic hub. These PGCs express GSC markers and function like GSCs, while PGCs that do not associate with the hub begin to differentiate. In the absence of Jak-STAT activation, PGCs adjacent to the hub fail to exhibit the characteristics of GSCs, while ectopic activation of the Jak-STAT pathway prevents differentiation. These findings show that stem cell formation is closely linked to development of the stem cell niche, and suggest that Jak-STAT signaling is required for initial establishment of the GSC population in developing testes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)335-344
Number of pages10
JournalDevelopmental biology
Volume334
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 15 2009

Keywords

  • Germline
  • Gonad
  • Jak-STAT
  • Niche
  • Primordial germ cell
  • Spermatogonia
  • Stem cell

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

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