The emerging roles of jnk signaling in drosophila stem cell homeostasis

© 2021 by the authors.The Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway is an evolutionary conserved kinase cascade best known for its roles during stress-induced apoptosis and tumor progression. Recent findings, however, have identified new roles for this pleiotropic pathway in stem cells during regenerative responses and in cellular plasticity. Here, we provide an overview of recent findings about the new roles of JNK signaling in stem cell biology using two well-established Drosophila models: the testis and the intestine. We highlight the pathway’s roles in processes such as proliferation, death, self-renewal and reprogramming, and discuss the known parallels between flies and mammals.Work in the Bach lab is supported by grants from the NIH and NYS Department of Health/NYSTEM. Work in the Herrera lab is supported by a grant from the Fundación Bancaria “la Caixa” (ID 100010434) with the code LCF/BQ/PI20/11760005