The epigenetic factor Zrf1 regulates intestinal stem cell proliferation during midgut regeneration
Stem cells are essential for tissue maintenance and regeneration, balancing self-renewal and differentiation to support homeostasis and repair. Through an RNAi screen in the Drosophila midgut, we identified the epigenetic factor Zrf1 as a critical regulator of intestinal stem cell (ISC) proliferation. Functional analyses reveal that Zrf1 integrates inputs from multiple signaling pathways and interacts with components of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). Our findings suggest that Zrf1 is potentially a key chromatin regulator necessary for maintaining stem cell proliferation, enhancing our understanding of the molecular controls underlying stem cell function and chromatin-associated defects.
Authors
- Baolong Xia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2536-0267)
- Yanhui Hu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1494-1402)
- Joshua Shing Shun Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1723-0964)
- John M. Asara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7450-2589)
- Norbert Perrimon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7542-472X)
- Jun Xu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7963-0253)
- Richard Binari (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6155-9607)
- Ying Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6419-1980)
- Ah‐Ram Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9597-6759)
- Mujeeb Qadiri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9697-6447)
Institutions
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US)
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- Boston VA Research Institute (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PLoS Genetics
- Published
- 2025-10-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1011910
- Primary Topic
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00