In:
PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 20, No. 7 ( 2022-7-15), p. e3001472-
Abstract:
Sexually reproducing animals segregate their germline from their soma. In addition to gamete-producing gonads, planarian and parasitic flatworm reproduction relies on yolk cell–generating accessory reproductive organs (vitellaria) supporting development of yolkless oocytes. Despite the importance of vitellaria for flatworm reproduction (and parasite transmission), little is known about this unique evolutionary innovation. Here, we examine reproductive system development in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea , in which pluripotent stem cells generate both somatic and germ cell lineages. We show that a homolog of the pluripotency factor Klf4 is expressed in primordial germ cells (PGCs), presumptive germline stem cells (GSCs), and yolk cell progenitors. Knockdown of this klf4-like ( klf4l ) gene results in animals that fail to specify or maintain germ cells; surprisingly, they also fail to maintain yolk cells. We find that yolk cells display germ cell–like attributes and that vitellaria are structurally analogous to gonads. In addition to identifying a new proliferative cell population in planarians (yolk cell progenitors) and defining its niche, our work provides evidence supporting the hypothesis that flatworm germ cells and yolk cells share a common evolutionary origin.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1545-7885
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.g003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.g004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.g005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.g006
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.g007
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.g008
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.s003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.s004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.s005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.s006
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.s007
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.s008
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.s009
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.s010
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.s011
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.s012
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472.s013
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2022
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2126773-X
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