Revisiting the role of the Gcm transcription factor, from master regulator to Swiss army knife

Master genes are known to induce the differentiation of a multipotent cell into a specific cell type. These molecules are often transcription factors that switch on the regulatory cascade that triggers cell specification. Gcm was first described as the master gene of the glial fate in Drosophila as...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fly (Austin, Tex.) Tex.), 2016-10, Vol.10 (4), p.210-218
Main Authors: Cattenoz, Pierre B., Giangrande, Angela
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology
Cell Differentiation
Cellular Biology
DamID
DNA-Binding Proteins
DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism
Drosophila
Drosophila - cytology
Drosophila - growth & development
Drosophila - metabolism
Drosophila Proteins
Drosophila Proteins - metabolism
Embryo, Nonmammalian
Embryo, Nonmammalian - cytology
Embryo, Nonmammalian - metabolism
Extra View
Gcm
Genes, Regulator
hedgehog
high-throughput screen
immune system
JAK/STAT
Life Sciences
Molecular biology
nervous system
Notch
Signal Transduction
Transcription Factors
Transcription Factors - metabolism
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Master genes are known to induce the differentiation of a multipotent cell into a specific cell type. These molecules are often transcription factors that switch on the regulatory cascade that triggers cell specification. Gcm was first described as the master gene of the glial fate in Drosophila as it induces the differentiation of neuroblasts into glia in the developing nervous system. Later on, Gcm was also shown to regulate the differentiation of blood, tendon and peritracheal cells as well as that of neuronal subsets. Thus, the glial master gene is used in at least 4 additional systems to promote differentiation. To understand the numerous roles of Gcm, we recently reported a genome-wide screen of Gcm direct targets in the Drosophila embryo. This screen provided new insight into the role and mode of action of this powerful transcription factor, notably on the interactions between Gcm and major differentiation pathways such as the Hedgehog, Notch and JAK/STAT. Here, we discuss the mode of action of Gcm in the different systems, we present new tissues that require Gcm and we revise the concept of 'master gene'.
ISSN:1933-6934
1933-6942
DOI:10.1080/19336934.2016.1212793