Homeodomain protein Six4 prevents the generation of supernumerary Drosophila type II neuroblasts and premature differentiation of intermediate neural progenitors

PLoS Genet. 2021 Feb 8;17(2):e1009371. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009371. eCollection 2021 Feb.

Abstract

In order to boost the number and diversity of neurons generated from neural stem cells, intermediate neural progenitors (INPs) need to maintain their homeostasis by avoiding both dedifferentiation and premature differentiation. Elucidating how INPs maintain homeostasis is critical for understanding the generation of brain complexity and various neurological diseases resulting from defects in INP development. Here we report that Six4 expressed in Drosophila type II neuroblast (NB) lineages prevents the generation of supernumerary type II NBs and premature differentiation of INPs. We show that loss of Six4 leads to supernumerary type II NBs likely due to dedifferentiation of immature INPs (imINPs). We provide data to further demonstrate that Six4 inhibits the expression and activity of PntP1 in imINPs in part by forming a trimeric complex with Earmuff and PntP1. Furthermore, knockdown of Six4 exacerbates the loss of INPs resulting from the loss of PntP1 by enhancing ectopic Prospero expression in imINPs, suggesting that Six4 is also required for preventing premature differentiation of INPs. Taken together, our work identified a novel transcription factor that likely plays important roles in maintaining INP homeostasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Brain / cytology
  • Brain / growth & development
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cell Count
  • Cell Dedifferentiation / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Lineage / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics*
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / growth & development
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Neural Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Six4 protein, Drosophila
  • Transcription Factors
  • erm protein, Drosophila
  • pnt protein, Drosophila