A niche- derived nonribosomal peptide triggers planarian sexual development

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Issigonis, Melanie; Browder, Katherine L.; Chen, Rui; Collins III, James J.; Newmark, Phillip A.
• 署名单位: University of Wisconsin System; University of Wisconsin Madison; The Morgridge Institute for Research, Inc.; University of Wisconsin System; University of Wisconsin Madison; University of Wisconsin System; University of Wisconsin Madison; University of Texas System; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-13037
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321349121
• 发表日期: 2024-06-25
• 关键词: double-stranded-rna; germ-cell specification; schmidtea-mediterranea; nervous-system; stem-cells; gene-expression; visual mutants; regeneration; ebony; maintenance

摘要

Germ cells are regulated by local microenvironments (niches), which secrete instructive cues. Conserved developmental signaling molecules act as niche - derived regulatory factors, yet other types of niche signals remain to be identified. Single - cell RNA - sequencing of sexual planarians revealed niche cells expressing a nonribosomal peptide synthetase ( nrps ). Inhibiting nrps led to loss of female reproductive organs and testis hyperplasia. Mass spectrometry detected the dipeptide beta- alanyl - tryptamine (BATT), which is associated with reproductive system development and requires nrps and a monoamine - transmitter - synthetic enzyme Aromatic L - amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) for its production. Exogenous BATT rescued the reproductive defects after nrps or aadc inhibition, restoring fertility. Thus, a nonribosomal, monoamine - derived peptide provided by niche cells acts as a critical signal to trigger planarian reproductive development. These findings reveal an unexpected function for monoamines in niche - germ cell signaling. Furthermore, given the recently reported role for BATT as a male - derived factor required for reproductive maturation of female schistosomes, these results have important implications for the evolution of parasitic flatworms and suggest a potential role for nonribosomal peptides as signaling molecules in other organisms.