C. elegans nucleostemin is required for larval growth and germline stem cell division.

The nucleolus has shown to be integral for many processes related to cell growth and proliferation. Stem cells in particular are likely to depend upon nucleolus-based processes to remain in a proliferative state. A highly conserved nucleolar factor named nucleostemin is proposed to be a critical lin...

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Main Authors: Michelle M Kudron, Valerie Reinke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2008-08-01
Series:PLoS Genetics
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2515194?pdf=render
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author Michelle M Kudron
Valerie Reinke
author_facet Michelle M Kudron
Valerie Reinke
author_sort Michelle M Kudron
collection DOAJ
description The nucleolus has shown to be integral for many processes related to cell growth and proliferation. Stem cells in particular are likely to depend upon nucleolus-based processes to remain in a proliferative state. A highly conserved nucleolar factor named nucleostemin is proposed to be a critical link between nucleolar function and stem-cell-specific processes. Currently, it is unclear whether nucleostemin modulates proliferation by affecting ribosome biogenesis or by another nucleolus-based activity that is specific to stem cells and/or highly proliferating cells. Here, we investigate nucleostemin (nst-1) in the nematode C. elegans, which enables us to examine nst-1 function during both proliferation and differentiation in vivo. Like mammalian nucleostemin, the NST-1 protein is localized to the nucleolus and the nucleoplasm; however, its expression is found in both differentiated and proliferating cells. Global loss of C. elegans nucleostemin (nst-1) leads to a larval arrest phenotype due to a growth defect in the soma, while loss of nst-1 specifically in the germ line causes germline stem cells to undergo a cell cycle arrest. nst-1 mutants exhibit reduced levels of rRNAs, suggesting defects in ribosome biogenesis. However, NST-1 is generally not present in regions of the nucleolus where rRNA transcription and processing occurs, so this reduction is likely secondary to a different defect in ribosome biogenesis. Transgenic studies indicate that NST-1 requires its N-terminal domain for stable expression and both its G1 GTPase and intermediate domains for proper germ line function. Our data support a role for C. elegans nucleostemin in cell growth and proliferation by promoting ribosome biogenesis.
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spelling doaj.art-1dd45afdb5414347982fcf2b04bc12df2022-12-21T23:00:41ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Genetics1553-73901553-74042008-08-0148e100018110.1371/journal.pgen.1000181C. elegans nucleostemin is required for larval growth and germline stem cell division.Michelle M KudronValerie ReinkeThe nucleolus has shown to be integral for many processes related to cell growth and proliferation. Stem cells in particular are likely to depend upon nucleolus-based processes to remain in a proliferative state. A highly conserved nucleolar factor named nucleostemin is proposed to be a critical link between nucleolar function and stem-cell-specific processes. Currently, it is unclear whether nucleostemin modulates proliferation by affecting ribosome biogenesis or by another nucleolus-based activity that is specific to stem cells and/or highly proliferating cells. Here, we investigate nucleostemin (nst-1) in the nematode C. elegans, which enables us to examine nst-1 function during both proliferation and differentiation in vivo. Like mammalian nucleostemin, the NST-1 protein is localized to the nucleolus and the nucleoplasm; however, its expression is found in both differentiated and proliferating cells. Global loss of C. elegans nucleostemin (nst-1) leads to a larval arrest phenotype due to a growth defect in the soma, while loss of nst-1 specifically in the germ line causes germline stem cells to undergo a cell cycle arrest. nst-1 mutants exhibit reduced levels of rRNAs, suggesting defects in ribosome biogenesis. However, NST-1 is generally not present in regions of the nucleolus where rRNA transcription and processing occurs, so this reduction is likely secondary to a different defect in ribosome biogenesis. Transgenic studies indicate that NST-1 requires its N-terminal domain for stable expression and both its G1 GTPase and intermediate domains for proper germ line function. Our data support a role for C. elegans nucleostemin in cell growth and proliferation by promoting ribosome biogenesis.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2515194?pdf=render
spellingShingle Michelle M Kudron
Valerie Reinke
C. elegans nucleostemin is required for larval growth and germline stem cell division.
PLoS Genetics
title C. elegans nucleostemin is required for larval growth and germline stem cell division.
title_full C. elegans nucleostemin is required for larval growth and germline stem cell division.
title_fullStr C. elegans nucleostemin is required for larval growth and germline stem cell division.
title_full_unstemmed C. elegans nucleostemin is required for larval growth and germline stem cell division.
title_short C. elegans nucleostemin is required for larval growth and germline stem cell division.
title_sort c elegans nucleostemin is required for larval growth and germline stem cell division
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2515194?pdf=render
work_keys_str_mv AT michellemkudron celegansnucleosteminisrequiredforlarvalgrowthandgermlinestemcelldivision
AT valeriereinke celegansnucleosteminisrequiredforlarvalgrowthandgermlinestemcelldivision