Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 10, 2025

Generation of Apical-Out Intestinal Organoids and Assessment of Organoid Proliferation Rate Using EdU-Labeling
05:38

Generation of Apical-Out Intestinal Organoids and Assessment of Organoid Proliferation Rate Using EdU-Labeling

Published on: March 28, 2025

490

Apical-basal polarity precisely determines intestinal stem cell number by regulating Prospero threshold

Song Wu1, Yang Yang2, Ruizhi Tang1

  • 1Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medicine, Institute for Brain Research, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.

Cell Reports
|February 11, 2023
PubMed

Insights

This study reveals how apical-basal polarity and Prospero (Pros) levels precisely control Drosophila intestinal stem cell numbers. A polarity network ensures correct cell fate and division patterns, maintaining stem cell homeostasis.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Apical-basal polarity and cell-fate determinants are vital for stem cell control.
  • The precise mechanisms linking polarity to stem cell number remain elusive.
  • Drosophila pupal intestinal stem cells (pISCs) offer a model to study polarity loss outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the interplay between polarity and cell-fate determinants in controlling stem cell numbers.
  • To investigate the regulatory network governing pISC divisions and differentiation.
  • To understand how polarity loss impacts stem cell fate.

Main Methods:

  • Lineage tracing in Drosophila.
  • Ex vivo live imaging of pISCs.
  • Analysis of polarity regulators and cell-fate markers.

Main Results:

  • Identified an interlocked polarity network regulating stem cell number.
  • Bazooka inhibits Prospero accumulation via Notch signaling in apical daughters, maintaining stem cell fate.
  • Prospero thresholds dictate differentiation into enteroendocrine mother cells (EMCs) or symmetric divisions in basal daughters.

Conclusions:

  • A polarity-dependent threshold of Prospero precisely controls stem cell number.
  • This network ensures correct cell fate and division patterns, maintaining stem cell homeostasis.
  • Findings provide insights into stem cell regulation and differentiation processes.

Keywords:
BazCP: Cell biologyCP: Stem cell researchMiraNotch activationPar-6Pros thresholdaPKCapical-basal polaritypupal intestinal stem cellstem cell number

More Related Videos

The Organoid Reconstitution Assay ORA for the Functional Analysis of Intestinal Stem and Niche Cells09:38

The Organoid Reconstitution Assay ORA for the Functional Analysis of Intestinal Stem and Niche Cells

Published on: November 20, 2017

11.5K
Culture Methods to Study Apical-Specific Interactions using Intestinal Organoid Models07:49

Culture Methods to Study Apical-Specific Interactions using Intestinal Organoid Models

Published on: March 23, 2021

11.1K

Related Concept Videos

Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:12

Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
2.2K
Renewal of Intestinal Stem Cells01:23

Renewal of Intestinal Stem Cells

The intestinal epithelial lining rapidly renews every 4 to 5 days. The renewal is facilitated by intestinal stem cells (ISCs) located at the base of the crypt– a gland located at the bottom of each villus. ISCs divide asymmetrically to form new stem cells and progenitor daughter cells. The daughter cells are called transit-amplifying (TA) cells which move upwards along the crypt and either differentiate into absorptive cells– the enterocytes or secretory cells– including the...
2.7K
Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:22

Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma receptor (Eph) and its ligand, Eph receptor-interacting protein (Ephrin) were first discovered in the human carcinoma cell line, hence the name. Ephrin-Eph interaction guides cells to reach their appropriate location in adult tissues. They also play an essential role in the immune system by helping in immune cell migration, adhesion, and activation. Based on their structure and function, Eph is divided into two classes — EphA and EphB.
2.3K
Adult Stem Cells01:33

Adult Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce more stem cells or progenitor cells that differentiate into mature, specialized cell types. All the cells in the body are generated from stem cells in the early embryo, but small populations of stem cells are also present in many adult tissues including the bone marrow, brain, skin, and gut. These adult stem cells typically produce the various cell types found in that tissue—to replace cells that are damaged or to continuously...
30.4K
Cells Coordinate Growth and Proliferation02:36

Cells Coordinate Growth and Proliferation

Cell size is a significant factor impacting cellular design, function, and fitness. There exists some internal coordination by which cells double their masses before division, thus, achieving homeostasis. Coordination between cell growth and proliferation depends on the checkpoints in between cell cycle phases. Loss of coordination or failure in the checkpoint mechanism can drive the cell to uncontrolled growth and loss of cellular function. Like dividing cells that coordinate cellular growth,...
4.6K
Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells01:01

Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

All blood and immune cells are produced from the multipotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by the process of hematopoiesis. However, they all have a limited life span. In addition, many are depleted in immune surveillance or combatting an injury or infection. This makes blood one of the most regenerative tissues. Hematopoiesis helps replenish these blood and immune cells, restoring the body's normal functioning. However, overproduction of blood and immune cells can make them cancerous or...
3.3K