dFezf/Earmuff Maintains the Restricted Developmental Potential of Intermediate Neural Progenitors in Drosophila

• Published in: Developmental cell Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 126 - 135
• Main Authors: Weng, Mo, Golden, Krista L., Lee, Cheng-Yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, MA Elsevier Inc 19.01.2010; Cell Press
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Cell Differentiation - physiology; Cell differentiation, maturation, development, hematopoiesis; Cell Lineage - physiology; Cell physiology; Cell Polarity - physiology; Cell Proliferation; DEVBIO; Drosophila - cytology; Drosophila - embryology; Drosophila Proteins - genetics; Drosophila Proteins - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - physiology; Larva - cytology; Larva - growth & development; Molecular and cellular biology; Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Nervous System - cytology; Nervous System - embryology; Neurogenesis - physiology; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - metabolism; Nuclear Proteins - genetics; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Receptors, Notch - genetics; Receptors, Notch - metabolism; Stem Cells - cytology; Stem Cells - metabolism; STEMCELL; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Zebrafish Proteins - genetics; Zebrafish Proteins - metabolism; Zinc Fingers - genetics; STEMCELL; DEVBIO; Arthropoda; Insecta; Development; Invertebrata; Drosophila melanogaster; Diptera; Drosophilidae
• ISSN: 1534-5807; 1878-1551
• DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2009.12.007

To ensure normal development and maintenance of homeostasis, the extensive developmental potential of stem cells must be functionally distinguished from the limited developmental potential of transit amplifying cells. Yet the mechanisms that restrict the developmental potential of transit amplifying cells are poorly understood. Here we show that the evolutionarily conserved transcription factor dFezf/Earmuff (Erm) functions cell-autonomously to maintain the restricted developmental potential of the intermediate neural progenitors generated by type II neuroblasts in Drosophila larval brains. Although erm mutant intermediate neural progenitors are correctly specified and show normal apical-basal cortical polarity, they can dedifferentiate back into a neuroblast state, functionally indistinguishable from normal type II neuroblasts. Erm restricts the potential of intermediate neural progenitors by activating Prospero to limit proliferation and by antagonizing Notch signaling to prevent dedifferentiation. We conclude that Erm dependence functionally distinguishes intermediate neural progenitors from neuroblasts in the Drosophila larval brain, balancing neurogenesis with stem cell maintenance. ► Earmuff restricts the potential of intermediate neural progenitors (INPs) ► In earmuff mutants, INPs de-differentiate back to neuroblasts ► Earmuff promotes nuclear Prospero localization and cell cycle exit ► Earmuff suppresses de-differentiation by antagonizing Notch signaling