Wnt Signaling in Sexual Dimorphism.

TitleWnt Signaling in Sexual Dimorphism.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsDeshpande, G, Nouri, A, Schedl, P
JournalGenetics
Volume202
Issue2
Pagination661-73
Date Published2016 Feb
ISSN1943-2631
KeywordsAnimals, Cell Differentiation, Cell Division, Cell Survival, Drosophila melanogaster, Embryo, Nonmammalian, Female, Gene Expression, Germ Cells, Gonads, Male, Mutation, Sex Characteristics, STAT Transcription Factors, Testis, Wnt Signaling Pathway
Abstract

<p>The embryonic gonad of Drosophila melanogaster begins to display sexually dimorphic traits soon after its formation. Here we demonstrate the involvement of a wnt family ligand, wnt-2, in the induction of these sex-specific differences. We show that wnt-2 contributes to the survival of a male-specific population of somatic gonadal precursor cells (SGPs), the male-specific SGPs that are located at the posterior of the male gonad. We also show that the Wnt-2 ligand synergizes with the JAK-STAT ligand Upd, which is produced by SGPs at the anterior of the gonad to activate the STAT pathway in male germ cells. We suggest that the use of two spatially separated signaling systems to initiate the JAK-STAT stem cell maintenance pathway in germ cells provides a mechanism for increasing the pool of potential progenitors of the germline stem cells in the adult testes. Finally, we present evidence indicating that, like the JAK-STAT pathway, wnt-2 stimulates germ cells in male embryos to re-enter the cell cycle.</p>

DOI10.1534/genetics.115.177857
Alternate JournalGenetics
PubMed ID26614739
PubMed Central IDPMC4788241
Grant ListR01 GM110015 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R01GM110015 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States