RoboA reinforces planarian stem cell fate through FoxA and Anosmin1a.

ABSTRACT: Whole-body regeneration requires adult stem cells with high plasticity to differentiate into missing cell types. Planarians possess a unique configuration of organs embedded in a vast pool of pluripotent stem cells. How stem cells integrate positional information with discrete fates remains unknown. Here, we use the planarian pharynx to define the cell fates that depend on the pioneer transcription factor FoxA. We find that Roundabout receptor RoboA suppresses aberrant pharynx cell fates by altering foxA expression, independent of the canonical ligand Slit. An RNAi screen for extracellular proteins identifies Anosmin1a as a potential partner of RoboA. Perturbing global patterning demonstrates that roboA/anosmin1a functions locally in the brain. By contrast, altering pharynx fate with foxA

SUBMITTER: Wang KT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12932670 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature