Recent Advances in the Genetic, Anatomical, and Environmental Regulation of the <i>C. elegans</i> Germ Line Progenitor Zone
The <i>C. elegans</i> germ line and its gonadal support cells are well studied from a developmental genetics standpoint and have revealed many foundational principles of stem cell niche biology. Among these are the observations that a niche-like cell supports a self-renewing stem cell po...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Developmental Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2221-3759/8/3/14 |
| _version_ | 1797561750001811456 |
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| author | Kacy Gordon |
| author_facet | Kacy Gordon |
| author_sort | Kacy Gordon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The <i>C. elegans</i> germ line and its gonadal support cells are well studied from a developmental genetics standpoint and have revealed many foundational principles of stem cell niche biology. Among these are the observations that a niche-like cell supports a self-renewing stem cell population with multipotential, differentiating daughter cells. While genetic features that distinguish stem-like cells from their differentiating progeny have been defined, the mechanisms that structure these populations in the germ line have yet to be explained. The spatial restriction of Notch activation has emerged as an important genetic principle acting in the distal germ line. Synthesizing recent findings, I present a model in which the germ stem cell population of the <i>C. elegans</i> adult hermaphrodite can be recognized as two distinct anatomical and genetic populations. This review describes the recent progress that has been made in characterizing the undifferentiated germ cells and gonad anatomy, and presents open questions in the field and new directions for research to pursue. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:19:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8ddbd952c40442e5ac2f35c1c11fbb3e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2221-3759 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:19:00Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Developmental Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-8ddbd952c40442e5ac2f35c1c11fbb3e2023-11-20T07:31:00ZengMDPI AGJournal of Developmental Biology2221-37592020-07-01831410.3390/jdb8030014Recent Advances in the Genetic, Anatomical, and Environmental Regulation of the <i>C. elegans</i> Germ Line Progenitor ZoneKacy Gordon0Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USAThe <i>C. elegans</i> germ line and its gonadal support cells are well studied from a developmental genetics standpoint and have revealed many foundational principles of stem cell niche biology. Among these are the observations that a niche-like cell supports a self-renewing stem cell population with multipotential, differentiating daughter cells. While genetic features that distinguish stem-like cells from their differentiating progeny have been defined, the mechanisms that structure these populations in the germ line have yet to be explained. The spatial restriction of Notch activation has emerged as an important genetic principle acting in the distal germ line. Synthesizing recent findings, I present a model in which the germ stem cell population of the <i>C. elegans</i> adult hermaphrodite can be recognized as two distinct anatomical and genetic populations. This review describes the recent progress that has been made in characterizing the undifferentiated germ cells and gonad anatomy, and presents open questions in the field and new directions for research to pursue.https://www.mdpi.com/2221-3759/8/3/14<i>C. elegans</i>germ linestem cellprogenitor cellNotch |
| spellingShingle | Kacy Gordon Recent Advances in the Genetic, Anatomical, and Environmental Regulation of the <i>C. elegans</i> Germ Line Progenitor Zone Journal of Developmental Biology <i>C. elegans</i> germ line stem cell progenitor cell Notch |
| title | Recent Advances in the Genetic, Anatomical, and Environmental Regulation of the <i>C. elegans</i> Germ Line Progenitor Zone |
| title_full | Recent Advances in the Genetic, Anatomical, and Environmental Regulation of the <i>C. elegans</i> Germ Line Progenitor Zone |
| title_fullStr | Recent Advances in the Genetic, Anatomical, and Environmental Regulation of the <i>C. elegans</i> Germ Line Progenitor Zone |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent Advances in the Genetic, Anatomical, and Environmental Regulation of the <i>C. elegans</i> Germ Line Progenitor Zone |
| title_short | Recent Advances in the Genetic, Anatomical, and Environmental Regulation of the <i>C. elegans</i> Germ Line Progenitor Zone |
| title_sort | recent advances in the genetic anatomical and environmental regulation of the i c elegans i germ line progenitor zone |
| topic | <i>C. elegans</i> germ line stem cell progenitor cell Notch |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2221-3759/8/3/14 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kacygordon recentadvancesinthegeneticanatomicalandenvironmentalregulationoftheicelegansigermlineprogenitorzone |