Signal transduction pathways, intrinsic regulators, and the control of cell fate choice

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta Vol. 1830; no. 2; pp. 2375 - 2384
• Main Author: Fossett, Nancy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.02.2013
• Subjects: Animals; Bone morphogenic protein; Cell Lineage; cells; Drosophila; Friend of GATA; GATA; Hedgehog; Hematopoiesis; JAK/STAT; regulator genes; Signal Transduction; stem cells; transcription factors; Hedgehog; JAK/STAT; Friend of GATA; Hematopoiesis; GATA; Bone morphogenic protein
• ISSN: 0304-4165; 0006-3002; 1872-8006
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2012.06.005

Information regarding changes in organismal status is transmitted to the stem cell regulatory machinery by a limited number of signal transduction pathways. Consequently, these pathways derive their functional specificity through interactions with stem cell intrinsic master regulators, notably transcription factors. Identifying the molecular underpinnings of these interactions is critical to understanding stem cell function. This review focuses on studies in Drosophila that identify the gene regulatory basis for interactions between three different signal transduction pathways and an intrinsic master transcriptional regulator in the context of hematopoietic stem-like cell fate choice. Specifically, the interface between the GATA:FOG regulatory complex and the JAK/STAT, BMP, and Hedgehog pathways is examined. The GATA:FOG complex coordinates information transmitted by at least three different signal transduction pathways as a means to control stem-like cell fate choice. This illustrates emerging principles concerning regulation of stem cell function and describes a gene regulatory link between changes in organismal status and stem cell response. The Drosophila model system offers a powerful approach to identify the molecular basis of how stem cells receive, interpret, and then respond to changes in organismal status. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Biochemistry of Stem Cells. ► GATA:FOG interactions with JAK/STAT, BMP and Hedgehog pathways are discussed. ► These interactions control cell fate choice during Drosophila hematopoiesis. ► Emerging principles regarding regulation of stem cell function are discussed. ► Regulatory links between organism status and stem-like cell response are described.