The Drosophila Sp8 transcription factor buttonhead prevents premature differentiation of intermediate neural progenitors

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Abstract

Intermediate neural progenitor cells (INPs) need to avoid differentiation and cell cycle exit while maintaining restricted developmental potential, but mechanisms preventing differentiation and cell cycle exit of INPs are not well understood. Here we report that the Drosophila homolog of mammalian Sp8 transcription factor Buttonhead (Btd) prevents premature differentiation and cell cycle exit of INPs in Drosophila larval type II neuroblast (NB) lineages. We show that loss of Btd leads to elimination of mature INPs due to premature differentiation of INPs into terminally dividing ganglion mother cells. We provide evidence to demonstrate that Btd prevents the premature differentiation by suppressing the expression of the homeodomain protein Prospero in immature INPs. We further show that Btd functions cooperatively with the Ets transcription factor Pointed P1 to promote the generation of INPs. Thus, our work reveals a critical mechanism that prevents premature differentiation and cell cycle exit ofDrosophila INPs.

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Yonggang Xie

State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Xiaosu Li

State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Xian Zhang

State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Shaolin Mei

State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Hongyu Li

State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Andreacarola Urso

Syracuse University, Syracuse, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Sijun Zhu

State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, United States

For correspondence
zhus@upstate.edu

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

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