Faculty Opinions Recommendation of Stem Cell Niche Exit in C. Elegans via Orientation and Segregation of Daughter Cells by a Cryptic Cell Outside the Niche.
October 2020
in “
Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature
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TLDR Stem cell niche exit in C. elegans is influenced by Sh1 cell membrane protrusions.
The study by Gordon et al. explored the regulation of germline stem cell division in C. elegans, revealing that the niche structure is more complex than previously thought. The research highlighted the role of two somatic cells, the distal tip cell (DTC) and Sh1, in controlling asymmetric cell division through physical interactions with the dividing stem cells. Using fluorescently-tagged innexins and time-lapse live imaging, the authors demonstrated that these somatic cells contact different halves of the dividing stem cell, influencing division orientation. The study found that the membrane extensions formed by DTC and Sh1 are actin-dependent, contrasting with microtubule-dependent interactions seen in Drosophila. This research provided new insights into niche-stem cell interactions and opened avenues for further investigation into asymmetric stem cell division mechanisms.
