Open AccessA Notch positive feedback in the intestinal stem cell niche is essential for stem cell self‐renewal
Author(s) -
Chen KaiYuan,
Srinivasan Tara,
Tung KueiLing,
Belmonte Julio M,
Wang Lihua,
Murthy Preetish Kadur Lakshminarasimha,
Choi Jiahn,
Rakhilin Nikolai,
King Sarah,
Varanko Anastasia Kristine,
Witherspoon Mavee,
Nishimura Nozomi,
Glazier James A,
Lipkin Steven M,
Bu Pengcheng,
Shen Xiling
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
molecular systems biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.523
H-Index - 148
ISSN - 1744-4292
DOI - 10.15252/msb.20167324
Subject(s) - biology , stem cell , notch signaling pathway , microbiology and biotechnology , niche , crispr , stem cell niche , organoid , intestinal epithelium , genetics , gene , epithelium , progenitor cell , signal transduction , biochemistry
The intestinal epithelium is the fastest regenerative tissue in the body, fueled by fast‐cycling stem cells. The number and identity of these dividing and migrating stem cells are maintained by a mosaic pattern at the base of the crypt. How the underlying regulatory scheme manages this dynamic stem cell niche is not entirely clear. We stimulated intestinal organoids with Notch ligands and inhibitors and discovered that intestinal stem cells employ a positive feedback mechanism via direct Notch binding to the second intron of the Notch1 gene. Inactivation of the positive feedback by CRISPR /Cas9 mutation of the binding sequence alters the mosaic stem cell niche pattern and hinders regeneration in organoids. Dynamical system analysis and agent‐based multiscale stochastic modeling suggest that the positive feedback enhances the robustness of Notch‐mediated niche patterning. This study highlights the importance of feedback mechanisms in spatiotemporal control of the stem cell niche.