Project description:Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are regulated to keep the balance between self-renewal and differentiation. However, little is known about post-translational regulations in HSCs. In this study, we characterize the role of DDB1, a component of the Cul4A-DDB1 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, in HSCs and progenitors by using conditional DDB1 knockout models. We show that the maintenance and differentiation of both adult and fetal HSCs and progenitor cells is dependent on DDB1 function. Deletion of DDB1 alters cell cycle progression and induces apoptosis. Furthermore, deletion of DDB1 in developing thymocytes had no effects on T cell differentiation, whereas DDB1-deficient peripheral T cells were not able to enter cell cycle when stimulated in vitro. In addition, DDB1 is essential for T cell leukemia initiation. Our results reveal that DDB1 is required for adult and fetal hematopoiesis as it controls progenitor and stem cell homeostasis. Transcriptional consequences of inactivating DDB1 in fetal LSK cells. Four samples were analyzed: wild-type (WT) control and DDB1-deficient (DDB1) Lin-ckit+Sca1+ (LSK) cells sorted from fetal livers E16.5 of DDB1 flox/flox, VavCre+ and control mice.
Project description:The intestine is an organ with exceptionally high rate of cell turnover and perturbations in this process can lead to disease such as cancer or intestinal atrophy. Nutrition is a key factor regulating the intestinal cell turnover and has a profound impact on intestinal volume and cellular architecture. However, how the intestinal equilibrium is maintained in fluctuating dietary conditions is insufficiently understood. By utilizing the Drosophila midgut as a model, we reveal a novel nutrient sensing mechanism coupling stem cell metabolism with stem cell extrinsic growth signal. Our results show that intestinal stem cells (ISCs) employ the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) to monitor nutritional status and energy metabolism. Elevated activity of the HBP promotes Warburg effect-like metabolic reprogramming, which is required for the reactivation of ISCs from calorie restriction-induced quiescence. Furthermore, the HBP activity is an essential facilitator for insulin signaling-induced intestinal growth. In conclusion, intestinal stem cell intrinsic nutrient sensing regulates metabolic pathway activities, and defines the stem cell responsiveness to niche-derived growth signals.
Project description:Chronic inflammation is associated with disruption of cellular homeostasis, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive1. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 1/2 (NOD1/2) are intracellular pathogen recognition receptors that activate innate immune responses via sensing bacterial peptidoglycans2-4. We demonstrate that NOD1/2 sense not only microbe-specific molecular patterns but also perturbation of cell homeostasis, and thereby cause inflammation. Host generation of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) via the hydrolysis pathway is essential for NOD1/2 signaling upon such stress. Cytosolic delivery of S1P activates NOD1/2 dependent NF-κB activation and inflammation. Finally, we demonstrate that S1P directly binds to and activates NOD1/2. In sum, we describe a hitherto unknown role of NOD1/2 by revealing that they initiate innate immune responses by surveillance of cellular homeostasis through sensing of cytosolic S1P. Our findings provide a novel link between host cytosolic S1P and NOD1/2 mediated immune activation upon perturbation of cellular homeostasis and thus form the basis for future intervention strategies targeting the S1P-NOD1/2 axis.
Project description:Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are regulated to keep the balance between self-renewal and differentiation. However, little is known about post-translational regulations in HSCs. In this study, we characterize the role of DDB1, a component of the Cul4A-DDB1 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, in HSCs and progenitors by using conditional DDB1 knockout models. We show that the maintenance and differentiation of both adult and fetal HSCs and progenitor cells is dependent on DDB1 function. Deletion of DDB1 alters cell cycle progression and induces apoptosis. Furthermore, deletion of DDB1 in developing thymocytes had no effects on T cell differentiation, whereas DDB1-deficient peripheral T cells were not able to enter cell cycle when stimulated in vitro. In addition, DDB1 is essential for T cell leukemia initiation. Our results reveal that DDB1 is required for adult and fetal hematopoiesis as it controls progenitor and stem cell homeostasis. Transcriptional consequences of inactivating DDB1 in fetal LSK cells.