Golgi-to-ER retrograde transport prevents premature differentiation of Drosophila type II neuroblasts via Notch-signal-sending daughter cells

Huanhuan Zhang; Menglong Rui; Zhixin Ma; Sifan Gong; Shuliu Zhang; Qingxia Zhou; Congfeng Gan; Wenting Gong; Su Wang

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.108545

Golgi-to-ER retrograde transport prevents premature differentiation of Drosophila type II neuroblasts via Notch-signal-sending daughter cells

iScience. 2023 Nov 22;27(1):108545. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108545. eCollection 2024 Jan 19.

Authors

Huanhuan Zhang¹, Menglong Rui¹, Zhixin Ma¹, Sifan Gong¹, Shuliu Zhang¹, Qingxia Zhou¹, Congfeng Gan¹, Wenting Gong¹, Su Wang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
² Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China.

Abstract

Stem cells are heterogeneous to generate diverse differentiated cell types required for organogenesis; however, the underlying mechanisms that differently maintain these heterogeneous stem cells are not well understood. In this study, we identify that Golgi-to-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retrograde transport specifically maintains type II neuroblasts (NBs) through the Notch signaling. We reveal that intermediate neural progenitors (INPs), immediate daughter cells of type II NBs, provide Delta and function as the NB niche. The Delta used by INPs is mainly produced by NBs and asymmetrically distributed to INPs. Blocking retrograde transport leads to a decrease in INP number, which reduces Notch activity and results in the premature differentiation of type II NBs. Furthermore, the reduction of Delta could suppress tumor formation caused by type II NBs. Our results highlight the crosstalk between Golgi-to-ER retrograde transport, Notch signaling, stem cell niche, and fusion as an essential step in maintaining the self-renewal of type II NB lineage.

Keywords: Biological sciences; Cell biology; Microbiology.