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bioRxiv · 10.1101/758508

Lineage-specific control of convergent cell identity by a Forkhead repressor

Mizeracka, K.·Rogers, J. M.·Shaham, S.·Bulyk, M. L.·Heiman, M. G.
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Abstract

During convergent differentiation, multiple developmental lineages produce a highly similar or identical cell type. However, few molecular players that drive convergent differentiation are known. Here, we show that the C. elegans Forkhead transcription factor UNC-130 is required in only one of three convergent lineages that produce the same glial cell type. UNC-130 acts transiently as a repressor in progenitors and newly-born terminal cells to allow the proper specification of cells related by lineage rather than by cell type or function. Specification defects correlate with UNC-130:DNA binding, and UNC-130 can be functionally replaced by its human homolog, the neural crest lineage determinant FoxD3. We propose that, in contrast to terminal selectors that activate cell-type specific transcriptional programs in terminally differentiating cells, UNC-130 acts early and specifically in one convergent lineage to produce a cell type that also arises from molecularly distinct progenitors in other lineages.

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Mizeracka, K., Rogers, J. M., Shaham, S., Bulyk, M. L., Heiman, M. G.. 2019-09-05. Lineage-specific control of convergent cell identity by a Forkhead repressor. https://doi.org/10.1101/758508

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