DjPiwiB: A Rich Nuclear Inheritance for Descendants of Planarian Stem Cells

Dev Cell. 2016 May 9;37(3):204-6. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2016.04.022.

Abstract

Stem cell differentiation involves a delicate balance of gene expression and transposon repression. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Shibata et al. (2016) show that a PIWI protein expressed in planarian stem cells is inherited by their differentiating descendants to ensure regenerative capacity of the flatworm via transposon silencing.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Argonaute Proteins / genetics
  • Argonaute Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Inheritance Patterns / genetics*
  • Models, Biological
  • Planarians / cytology*
  • Stem Cells / metabolism*

Substances

  • Argonaute Proteins