Refined control of cell stemness allowed animal evolution in the oxic realm

Summary, in English

Animal diversification on Earth has long been presumed to be associated with the increasing extent of oxic niches. Here, we challenge that view. We start with the fact that hypoxia (<1-3% O₂) maintains cellular immaturity (stemness), whereas adult stem cells continuously - and paradoxically - regenerate animal tissue in oxygenated settings. Novel insights from tumour biology illuminate how cell stemness nevertheless can be achieved through the action of oxygen-sensing transcription factors in oxygenated, regenerating tissue. We suggest that these hypoxia-inducible transcription factors provided animals with unprecedented control over cell stemness that allowed them to cope with fluctuating oxygen concentrations. Thus, a refinement of the cellular hypoxia-response machinery enabled cell stemness at oxic conditions and, then, animals to evolve into the oxic realm. This view on the onset of animal diversification is consistent with geological evidence and provides a new perspective on the challenges and evolution of multicellular life.

• Author: Emma U. Hammarlund; Kristoffer Von Stedingk; Sven Påhlman
• Department/s: Division of Translational Cancer Research; BioCARE: Biomarkers in Cancer Medicine improving Health Care, Education and Innovation; Childhood Cancer Research Unit
• Publishing year: 2018-02-01
• Language: English
• Pages: 220-228
• Publication/Series: Nature Ecology and Evolution
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 2
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41559-017-0410-5
• Document type: Journal article review
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Topic: Evolutionary Biology
• Status: Published
• Research group: Childhood Cancer Research Unit
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 2397-334X