Role of PUF‐8/PUF Protein in Stem Cell Control, Sperm‐Oocyte Decision and Cell Fate Reprogramming. Issue 10 (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Datla, Udaya Sree; Scovill, Natasha Carol; Brokamp, Austin J.; Kim, Eunsuk; Asch, Adam S.; Lee, Myon‐Hee
• Is Part Of: Journal of cellular physiology. Volume 229:Issue 10(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1306
• Page End: 1311
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: Physiology -- Periodicals; Cell physiology -- Periodicals; 571.6
• DOI: 10.1002/jcp.24618
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9541

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jcp24618-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>Pumilio and FBF (PUF) proteins are conserved stem cell regulators that maintain germline stem cells (GSCs) in worms and flies. Moreover, they are also present in vertebrate stem cells. The nematode <italic>Caenorhabditis elegans</italic> has multiple PUF proteins with specialized roles. Among them, PUF‐8 protein controls multiple cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, sperm‐oocyte decision, and cell fate reprogramming, depending on the genetic context in the <italic>C. elegans</italic> germline. In this review, we describe the possible mechanisms of how PUF‐8 protein systematically controls multiple cellular processes in the <italic>C. elegans</italic> germline. Since PUF proteins are evolutionarily conserved, we suggest that a similar mechanism may be involved in controlling stem cell regulation and differentiation in other organisms, including humans. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 1306–1311, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </sec> </abstract>