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First published online 1 August 2007
doi: 10.1242/dev.006635

Development 134, 3121-3131 (2007)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2007
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smedinx-11 is a planarian stem cell gap junction gene required for regeneration and homeostasis

Néstor J. Oviedo and Michael Levin*

Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, Forsyth Institute, and Developmental Biology Department, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 140 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: mlevin{at}forsyth.org)

Accepted 21 June 2007

The largely unknown mechanisms that regulate adult stem cells probably involve signals from neighboring differentiated cells. Gap junction channels providing direct cell-cell communication via small molecules are a crucial component of morphogenesis and normal physiology. However, no specific gap junction protein has yet been functionally linked to adult/somatic stem cell behavior in vivo or to organ regeneration. We report the identification and characterization of smedinx-11 - an innexin gap junction channel gene expressed in the adult stem cells (neoblasts) of the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. smedinx-11 RNAi treatment inhibits regeneration and abrogates neoblast maintenance. Moreover, smedinx-11 expression is enriched in an irradiation-sensitive subpopulation (`X2') and is required for proper expression of other stem cell-specific markers. Analyses of the smedinx-11 downregulation phenotype revealed a striking anterior-posterior neoblast gradient. Our data demonstrate a novel role for gap junction proteins and suggest gap junction-mediated signaling as a new and tractable control point for adult, somatic stem cell regulation.

Key words: Planarian, Gap junctional communication, Stem cell, Regeneration


Related articles in Development:

Gap junctional talk regulates adult stem cells

Development 2007 134: e1705. [Full Text]  



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© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2007