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Stem Cells & LipidsOur work has shown that germline stem cells (GSCs) in the male gonad of the fly are sensitive to lipid levels (PMID:31160709). The accumulation of lipid droplets caused by malfunctioning mitochondria in GSCs led to stem cell differentiation and loss from the niche. Of note, other stem cell systems, including those present in mammals, have also been shown to be impacted by lipid levels. Our lab is currently investigating why/how increased lipid levels are detrimental to stem cell maintenance.
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Lipids in niche cellsStem cells reside in a microenvironment called "niche", where structural and signaling cues are present to maintain a progeny pool. Our work has shown that, when mitochondria are dysfunctional in GSCs, lipid droplets accumulated not only in the stem cells themselves, but also in the surrounding niche cells (PMID:31160709). We are now investigating whether niche cells are also sensitive to lipid levels, and whether or not they contribute non-autonomously to lipid homeostasis in stem cells.
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Autophagy & LipidsWe have shown that autophagy, a process involved in the recycling of cellular components, is necessary for the maintenance and function of another stem cell population present in the male gonad, the somatic cyst stem cells (PMID:31995752). Interestingly, downregulation of autophagy in cyst cells led to the accumulation of lipid droplets in these cells, suggesting a role for autophagy in controlling lipid levels in the GSC niche. We are currently investigating how autophagy controls lipid levels is in these cells, and whether autophagy is also required in other niche cells for lipid homeostasis.
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