Dissecting the enhancer gene regulatory network in early Drosophila spermatogenesis
Abstract Cellular decision-making and tissue homeostasis are governed by transcriptional networks shaped by chromatin accessibility. Using single-nucleus multi-omics, we jointly profile gene expression and chromatin accessibility in 10,335 cells from the Drosophila testis apical tip. This enables in...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62046-9 |
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| Summary: | Abstract Cellular decision-making and tissue homeostasis are governed by transcriptional networks shaped by chromatin accessibility. Using single-nucleus multi-omics, we jointly profile gene expression and chromatin accessibility in 10,335 cells from the Drosophila testis apical tip. This enables inference of 147 cell type-specific enhancer-gene regulons using SCENIC + . We functionally validate key transcription factors, including ovo and klumpfuss, known from other stem cell systems but not previously linked to spermatogenesis. CRISPR-mediated knockout reveals their essential roles in germline stem cell regulation, and we provide evidence that they co-regulate shared targets through overlapping enhancer elements. We further uncover a critical role for canonical Wnt signaling, with Pangolin/Tcf activating lineage-specific targets in the germline, soma, and niche. The Pan eRegulon links Wnt activity to cell adhesion, intercellular signaling and germline stem cell maintenance. Together, our study defines the enhancer-driven regulatory landscape of early spermatogenesis and reveals conserved, combinatorial mechanisms of niche-dependent stem cell control. |
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| ISSN: | 2041-1723 |