Chinmo defines the region-specific oncogenic competence in the Drosophila central nervous system
- Author(s)
- Nguyen, PK; Froldi, F; McMullen, JPD; Southall, TD; Marshall, OJ; Cheng, LY;
- Details
- Publication Year 2026-05-26,Volume 123,Issue #21,Page e2534053123
- Journal Title
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
- Publication Type
- Research article
- Abstract
- While genetic mutations can promote hyperplastic growth, they do not always result in oncogenic outcomes. We and others have previously identified the transcription factors Nerfin-1 and Lola as inhibitors of dedifferentiation. Here, we investigate how the oncogenic potential of dedifferentiation varies across different neural lineages in the Drosophila central nervous system. We found that Nerfin-1 inactivation causes tumorigenic phenotypes in the central brain and the ventral nerve cord but not the optic lobes (OLs). In contrast, Lola inactivation leads to tumor overgrowth specifically in the OLs. We identify Chinmo, a temporal transcription factor, and its regulation by ecdysone signaling as key determinants of the oncogenic competence in different regions of the brain, influencing the tumorigenic outcome of dedifferentiation. This study provides a fundamental framework to understand how oncogenic competence arises beyond genetic mutations.
- Keywords
- Animals; *Drosophila Proteins/metabolism/genetics; *Transcription Factors/metabolism/genetics; *Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/metabolism; *Central Nervous System/metabolism/pathology; Signal Transduction; Ecdysone/metabolism; *Carcinogenesis/genetics; Mutation; Drosophila; Nerve Tissue Proteins; dedifferentiation; malignancy; terminal differentiation
- Department(s)
- Laboratory Research
- Publisher's Version
- https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2534053123
- Terms of Use/Rights Notice
- Refer to copyright notice on published article.
Creation Date: 2026-05-28 05:48:59
Last Modified: 2026-05-28 05:49:07