SMEDWI-2 is a PIWI-like protein that regulates planarian stem cells |
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| Authors: | Reddien Peter W Oviedo Néstor J Jennings Joya R Jenkin James C Sánchez Alvarado Alejandro |
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| Institution: | Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA. |
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| Abstract: | We have identified two genes, smedwi-1 and smedwi-2, expressed in the dividing adult stem cells (neoblasts) of the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. Both genes encode proteins that belong to the Argonaute/PIWI protein family and that share highest homology with those proteins defined by Drosophila PIWI. RNA interference (RNAi) of smedwi-2 blocks regeneration, even though neoblasts are present, irradiation-sensitive, and capable of proliferating in response to wounding; smedwi-2(RNAi) neoblast progeny migrate to sites of cell turnover but, unlike normal cells, fail at replacing aged tissue. We suggest that SMEDWI-2 functions within dividing neoblasts to support the generation of cells that promote regeneration and homeostasis. |
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