What question did this study set out to answer?

To investigate the role of the piwi gene in germ-line stem cell self-renewal across different organisms.

December 1, 1998Genes & Development981 citationsOpen Access

A novel class of evolutionarily conserved genes defined by piwi are essential for stem cell self-renewal

DCDaniel N. CoxArizona State University ACAnna ChaoDuke University JBJeff J. BakerDuke University

Key Points

To investigate the role of the piwi gene in germ-line stem cell self-renewal across different organisms.
Cloned and characterized the piwi gene in Drosophila.
Conducted genetic mosaic and RNA in situ analyses to examine piwi expression.
Isolated piwi homologs in Caenorhabditis elegans and humans.
Piwi is required for asymmetric division of germ-line stem cells in Drosophila.
Decreasing piwi expression in C. elegans reduces the proliferation of GSC-equivalent cells.
Piwi homologs show conservation of function in stem cell maintenance across species.

Abstract

Germ-line stem cells (GSCs) serve as the source for gametogenesis in diverse organisms. We cloned and characterized the Drosophila piwi gene and showed that it is required for the asymmetric division of GSCs to produce and maintain a daughter GSC but is not essential for the further differentiation of the committed daughter cell. Genetic mosaic and RNA in situ analyses suggest that piwi expression in adjacent somatic cells regulates GSC division. piwi encodes a highly basic novel protein, well conserved during evolution. We isolated piwi homologs in Caenorhabditis elegans and humans and also identified Arabidopsis piwi-like genes known to be required for meristem cell maintenance. Decreasing C. elegans piwi expression reduces the proliferation of GSC-equivalent cells. Thus, piwi represents a novel class of genes required for GSC division in diverse organisms.

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