A natural transdifferentiation event involving mitosis is empowered by integrating signaling inputs with conserved plasticity factors.

Fiche publication


Date publication

septembre 2022

Journal

Cell reports

Auteurs

Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Dr GALLY Christelle, Dr JARRIAULT Sophie


Tous les auteurs :
Riva C, Hajduskova M, Gally C, Suman SK, Ahier A, Jarriault S

Résumé

Transdifferentiation, or direct cell reprogramming, is the conversion of one fully differentiated cell type into another. Whether core mechanisms are shared between natural transdifferentiation events when occurring with or without cell division is unclear. We have previously characterized the Y-to-PDA natural transdifferentiation in Caenorhabditis elegans, which occurs without cell division and requires orthologs of vertebrate reprogramming factors. Here, we identify a rectal-to-GABAergic transdifferentiation and show that cell division is required but not sufficient for conversion. We find shared mechanisms, including erasure of the initial identity, which requires the conserved reprogramming factors SEM-4/SALL, SOX-2, CEH-6/OCT, and EGL-5/HOX. We also find three additional and parallel roles of the Wnt signaling pathway: selection of a specific daughter, removal of the initial identity, and imposition of the precise final subtype identity. Our results support a model in which levels and antagonistic activities of SOX-2 and Wnt signaling provide a timer for the acquisition of final identity.

Mots clés

C. elegans, CP: Developmental biology, CP: Molecular biology, EGL-5/HOX, OCT4, SALL4, SOX2, TF dosage, Wnt, cell type conversion, natural direct reprogramming, transition state

Référence

Cell Rep. 2022 09 20;40(12):111365