A somatic proteoglycan controls Notch-directed germ cell fate.

Sandeep Gopal, Aqilah Amran, Andre Elton, Leelee Ng, Roger Pocock

Nature communications 2021 Nov 18

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Communication between the soma and germline optimizes germ cell fate programs. Notch receptors are key determinants of germ cell fate but how somatic signals direct Notch-dependent germ cell behavior is undefined. Here we demonstrate that SDN-1 (syndecan-1), a somatic transmembrane proteoglycan, controls expression of the GLP-1 (germline proliferation-1) Notch receptor in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline. We find that SDN-1 control of a somatic TRP calcium channel governs calcium-dependent binding of an AP-2 transcription factor (APTF-2) to the glp-1 promoter. Hence, SDN-1 signaling promotes GLP-1 expression and mitotic germ cell fate. Together, these data reveal SDN-1 as a putative communication nexus between the germline and its somatic environment to control germ cell fate decisions. © 2021. The Author(s).

Citation

Sandeep Gopal, Aqilah Amran, Andre Elton, Leelee Ng, Roger Pocock. A somatic proteoglycan controls Notch-directed germ cell fate. Nature communications. 2021 Nov 18;12(1):6708