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Numb regulates somatic cell lineage commitment during early gonadogenesis in mice
Yi-Tzu Lin1, Lindsey Barske1, Tony DeFalco2
1Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|April 1, 2017
Summary
NUMB protein is essential for cell polarity in coelomic epithelium cells during gonad development. Its loss disrupts cell differentiation and affects both somatic and germ cells.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Coelomic epithelium (CE) cells are multipotent progenitors for somatic cells in developing gonads.
- Asymmetric cell division is implicated in establishing distinct gonadal cell fates.
- NUMB protein exhibits asymmetric localization in CE cells, suggesting a role in this process.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of NUMB in establishing cell polarity and differentiation within the coelomic epithelium during gonadogenesis.
- To determine the necessity of NUMB-mediated asymmetric cell division for somatic cell fate commitment.
Main Methods:
- Conditional deletion of the Numb gene in mice prior to gonadogenesis.
- Analysis of gonad morphology, cell polarity, and marker expression (LHX9) in mutant and wild-type embryos.
- Assessment of somatic and germ cell differentiation.
Main Results:
- Conditional Numb deletion resulted in loss of cell polarity in CE layers.
- Mutant gonads displayed undifferentiated cell patches (LHX9+) and reduced differentiated somatic cells.
- Both somatic and germ cell populations were unexpectedly affected by Numb loss.
Conclusions:
- NUMB is crucial for establishing CE cell polarity, which is required for asymmetric divisions.
- Asymmetric divisions mediated by NUMB are essential for somatic cell fate commitment during gonadogenesis.
- Loss of NUMB has significant, potentially direct or indirect, consequences on germ cells as well.