Homeodomain interacting protein kinase (HPK‐1) is required in the soma for robust germline proliferation in C. elegans

Background: Tightly regulated pathways maintain the balance between proliferation and differentiation within stem cell populations. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the germline is the only tissue that is maintained by stem‐like cells into adulthood. In the current study, we investigated the role played b...

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Published in:Developmental dynamics 2013-11, Vol.242 (11), p.1250-1261
Main Authors: Berber, Slavica, Llamosas, Estelle, Thaivalappil, Priya, Boag, Peter R., Crossley, Merlin, Nicholas, Hannah R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
C. elegans
Caenorhabditis elegans
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - genetics
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - metabolism
Cell Proliferation
DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics
DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Germ Cells - metabolism
germline
HIPK
hpk‐1
proliferation
Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases - genetics
Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism
stem cells
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Summary:Background: Tightly regulated pathways maintain the balance between proliferation and differentiation within stem cell populations. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the germline is the only tissue that is maintained by stem‐like cells into adulthood. In the current study, we investigated the role played by a member of the Homeodomain interacting protein kinase (HIPK) family of serine/threonine kinases, HPK‐1, in the development and maintenance of the C. elegans germline. Results: We report that HPK‐1 is required for promotion of germline proliferation during development and into adulthood. Additionally, we show that HPK‐1 is required in the soma for regulation of germline proliferation. We also show that HPK‐1 is a predominantly nuclear protein expressed in several somatic tissues including germline‐interacting somatic cells. Conclusions: Our observations are consistent with a conserved role for HIPKs in the control of cellular proliferation and identify a new context for such control in germ cell proliferation. Developmental Dynamics 242:1250–1261, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Key findings HPK‐1 is required for normal germline proliferation. HPK‐1 is a nuclear protein that is expressed in somatic cells including the somatic gonad. Loss of HPK‐1 in somatic tissues results in defective germline proliferation.
ISSN:1058-8388
1097-0177
DOI:10.1002/dvdy.24023