Asymmetric cell division (ACD) generates cellular diversity. Stem and progenitor cells in
particular utilize ACD to self-renew the stem/progenitor cell while also forming
differentiated siblings. In order to fully exploit the potential of stem cells for future
therapeutic approaches, it is absolutely necessary to reach an in-depth understanding
of basic stem cell biology. Many diseases such as breast cancer susceptibility, acute
promyelocytic leukemia, the initiation of colon cancer but also the neurodevelopmental
disorders like microcephaly are due to defective asymmetric cell division. Thus,
understanding the basic biology of ACD will improve our knowledge of asymmetric
stem cell division during development and disease.
We are using Drosophila neural stem cells called neuroblasts, the precursors of the fly
central nervous system to study stem cell biology in general and asymmetric cell
division in particular. We are focusing on the following three main topics relevant to
asymmetric stem cell divisions: (1) centrosome asymmetry, (2) Myosin dynamics and
cleavage furrow positioning and (3) biophysical mechanisms involved in asymmetric
cell division. Neuroblasts are polarized cells and divide in a stem cell-like fashion,
undergoing repeated self-renewing asymmetric divisions. The mitotic spindle invariably
orients itself along the neuroblast intrinsic apical-basal polarity axis and asymmetric
cleavage furrow positioning results in a physical and molecular asymmetric cell
division, generating a large self-renewed apical neuroblast and a smaller differentiating
basal ganglion mother cell (GMC). Drosophila neuroblasts provide an ideal
experimental system since precise genetic manipulations are possible and superb
imaging properties are available.
My lab has shown that the conserved centriolar component Bld10 (Cep135 in
vertebrates) is required to establish centrosome asymmetry, a requirement for correct
spindle orientation. In addition to Bld10, we isolated several new components involved
in centrosome asymmetry, instrumental in obtaining a thorough molecular
understanding of this process. In the future, we will take advantage of this knowledge
to further investigate the function of centrosome asymmetry during development.
We are also studying Myosin dynamics during asymmetric cell division. Recently, I
showed that Drosophila neuroblasts are utilizing a spindle-independent,
polarity-dependent mechanism for cleavage furrow positioning. This pathway,
consisting of the conserved polarity proteins Discs large 1 (Dlg) and Partner of
Inscuteable (Pins; LGN/AGS3 in vertebrates) instructs the asymmetric localization of
Myosin. Controlled cleavage furrow positioning is important for accurate cell fate
determinant segregation and the correct partitioning of chromosomes. Molecular
insight into this polarity-dependent pathway is currently lacking but recent evidence
suggests that other cell types across the animal kingdom also utilize
spindle-independent furrowing mechanisms. We have developed photoconversion
assays to study the dynamics of Myosin during ACD and also identified Protein Kinase
N as a putative effector in the polarity-dependent pathway. Furthermore, in a forward
genetic RNAi based live imaging screen, we found several additional candidates,
required for correct cleavage furrow positioning. We also implemented novel assays
and tools, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) on isolated Drosophila neuroblasts,
to measure biophysical forces underlying ACD. However, future studies will be required
to learn more about the cellular, molecular and biophysical mechanisms underlying
cleavage furrow positioning.
Based on these findings and achievements, we will continue to use Drosophila larval
neuroblasts to pursue the following main aims:

Aim 1: we will investigate the mechanism and function of centrosome asymmetry during asymmetric cell division.
Aim 2: we will investigate cellular, molecular and biophysical mechanisms involved in
cleavage furrow positioning and the establishing of physical asymmetry.