FB2026_03 , released September 17, 2026
Human Disease Model Report: cancer, neural stem cell, disruption of asymmetric division
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General Information
Name
cancer, neural stem cell, disruption of asymmetric division
FlyBase ID
FBhh0000954
Disease Ontology Term
Parent Disease
OMIM
Overview

Asymmetric division is a critical step in the differentiation of post-embryonic stem cells during which each stem cell generates one self-renewing and one differentiating daughter cell. Mutations in Drosophila genes that disrupt the process of asymmetric division have been studied as models of neural-stem-cell derived cancers. Genes studied include numb, mira, pros, pins, brat, lncRNA:cherub, l(3)mbt, and Arp8.

Loss-of-function mutations that affect normal neuroblast differentiation in Drosophila often result in conspicuous phenotypes of overproliferation and tumorous expansion of the brain at the larval stage. In brat or pros mutants, both daughter cells of the normally asymmetric division grow and behave like neuroblasts, leading to the formation of larval brain tumors comprised primarily of neuroblast-like cells. A sensitive test of neoplastic transformation is transplantation of potential tumorous cells into the abdomen of adult hosts; cells are observed for proliferation and invasive behaviors. One of the earliest genes characterized in this transplantation assay was brat. Homozygous loss-of-function mutations of numb, mira, pros, and pins have also been tested in this assay; larval brain tissue carrying neuroblasts with any of these mutations grew to more than 100 times their initial size, invading other tissues and killing the hosts in 2 weeks. The tumors became immortal and could be re-transplanted into new hosts for years.

In a study of genes upregulated in brat tumor neuroblasts, the long non-coding RNA lncRNA:cherub was identified. During normal neuroblast mitosis lncRNA:cherub is asymmetrically distributed. Loss or knockdown of lncRNA:cherub suppresses the brat tumor phenotype.

Using Ras85DV12 scrib mutant clones as a sensitized genetic background, an RNAi screen in larval brain neuroblasts identified potential asymmetric cell division regulators that also act as tumor suppressor genes. The Arp8 gene, othologous to human ACTR8, was identified in this screen and has been characterized further.

See also reports for well-studied disease models using specific genes, 'cancer, neural stem cell, TRIM2,3-related' (FBhh0000772, using the fly gene brat) and 'cancer, neural stem cell, L3MBTL-related' (FBhh0000773, using the fly gene l(3)mbt).

[updated Mar. 2022 by FlyBase; FBrf0222196]

Disease Summary Information
Disease Summary: cancer, neural stem cell, disruption of asymmetric division
OMIM report
Human gene(s) implicated
Symptoms and phenotype
Genetics
Cellular phenotype and pathology
Molecular information
External links
    Disease synonyms
    Search term: metastatic phenotype(s)
    Search term: neoplastic phenotype(s)
    Ortholog Information
    Human gene(s) in FlyBase
      Other mammalian ortholog(s) used
        D. melanogaster Gene Information (8)
        Gene Snapshot
        numb (numb) encodes a membrane-associated inhibitor of Notch signaling. It controls neuroblast and sense organ precursor asymmetric division. It is asymmetrically localized during mitosis and segregates exclusively to one of two daughter cells. [Date last reviewed: 2019-03-14]
        Molecular function (GO)
        Gene Groups / Pathways
        Comments on ortholog(s)

        High-scoring ortholog of human NUMB and NUMBL (1 Drosophila to 2 human). Dmel\numb shares 39-41% identity and 49-51% similarity with the human genes.

        Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
        DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
        Gene Snapshot
        miranda (mira) encodes a cytoplasmic and cortical scaffolding protein that binds the products of pros, stau and brat. It is asymmetrically localized to the basal cortex during neuroblast asymmetric cell division, resulting in its partioning into GMC daughter cells, where it is degraded and releases its cargo proteins. [Date last reviewed: 2019-03-14]
        Molecular function (GO)
        Gene Groups / Pathways
          Comments on ortholog(s)

          No gene orthologous to mira has been identified in human.

          Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
          DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
          Gene Snapshot
          prospero (pros) encodes a protein that promotes the expression of neural differentiation genes and represses neuroblast stem cell identity genes and cell cycle proliferation genes; it is also important for astrocyte development. The product of pros is asymmetrically localized to the basal cortex during neuroblast asymmetric cell division, resulting in its partioning into GMC daughter cells, where it translocates into the nucleus. [Date last reviewed: 2019-03-14]
          Gene Groups / Pathways
          Comments on ortholog(s)

          Moderate-scoring ortholog of human PROX1 and PROX2 (1 Drosophila to 2 human). Dmel\pros shares 24-29% identity and 35-41% similarity with the human genes.

          Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
          DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
          Gene Snapshot
          partner of inscuteable (pins) encodes a GDP-dissociation inhibitor involved in asymmetric cell division and mitotic spindle orientation. [Date last reviewed: 2019-06-13]
          Gene Groups / Pathways
          Comments on ortholog(s)

          High-scoring ortholog of human GPSM2 and GPMS1 (1 Drosophila to 2 human). Dmel\pins shares 45-47% identity and 60-63% similarity with the human genes.

          Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
          DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
          Gene Snapshot
          brain tumor (brat) encodes a tumor suppressor that regulates proliferation in the brain. During neural stem cell division, it segregates into one daughter cell where it inhibits protein translation, preventing self-renewal and inducing differentiation. It also acts during oogenesis where it interacts with the products of nanos and pum to suppress hb translation. [Date last reviewed: 2019-03-07]
          Gene Groups / Pathways
            Comments on ortholog(s)

            Low-scoring ortholog of human TRIM3 and TRIM2 (2 Drosophila to 2 human). Dmel\brat shares 23-25% identity and 39-41% similarity with the human genes.

            Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
            DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
            Gene Snapshot
            lethal (3) malignant brain tumor (l(3)mbt) encodes a tumor suppressor protein regulating proliferation in the brain, particularly the optic lobes. The proposed functions of the product of l(3)mbt include histone compaction, establishment of chromatin insulators, regulation of the Hippo pathway and repression of the germ line program in somatic cells. [Date last reviewed: 2019-09-26]
            Gene Groups / Pathways
              Comments on ortholog(s)

              Moderate-scoring ortholog of human L3MBTL3, L3MBTL4, and L3MBTL1 (1 Drosophila to 3 human). Dmel\l(3)mbt shares 28-31% identity and 42-46% similarity with the human genes.

              Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
              DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
              Cellular component (GO)
                Gene Groups / Pathways
                  Comments on ortholog(s)
                  Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
                  DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
                  Molecular function (GO)
                  Cellular component (GO)
                  Gene Groups / Pathways
                  Comments on ortholog(s)

                  High-scoring ortholog of human ACTR8 (1 Drosophila to 1 human).

                  Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
                  DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
                  Other Genes Used: Viral, Bacterial, Synthetic (0)
                    Summary of Physical Interactions (109 groups)
                    protein-protein
                    Interacting group
                    Assay
                    References
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, pull down, anti tag western blot, autoradiography
                    pull down, western blot
                    pull down, western blot
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
                    pull down, western blot
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
                    pull down, western blot, two hybrid
                    pull down, autoradiography
                    pull down, western blot, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, lambda phage display, fluorescence polarization spectroscopy, predetermined participant
                    pull down, autoradiography, two hybrid
                    pull down, molecular weight estimation by staining, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, cosedimentation, molecular weight, fluorescence polarization spectroscopy, predetermined participant, two hybrid, nuclear magnetic resonance, autoradiography
                    pull down, western blot
                    pull down, anti tag western blot, phage display, tag visualisation
                    two hybrid, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, cosedimentation, molecular weight, pull down, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, isothermal titration calorimetry, predetermined participant, x-ray crystallography, molecular weight estimation by staining
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
                    RNA-RNA
                    Interacting group
                    Assay
                    References
                    luminiscence technology, necessary binding region
                    protein-protein
                    Interacting group
                    Assay
                    References
                    detection by mass spectrometry, comigration in gel electrophoresis, molecular weight estimation by staining, protein cross-linking with a bifunctional reagent, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, enzymatic study, autoradiography, pull down, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
                    pull down, anti tag western blot
                    molecular sieving, molecular weight estimation by staining, two hybrid, pull down, isothermal titration calorimetry, predetermined participant, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
                    two hybrid, pull down, western blot
                    pull down, Identification by mass spectrometry, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, two hybrid, autoradiography
                    pull down, autoradiography
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, pull down, anti tag western blot, peptide massfingerprinting, autoradiography
                    pull down, autoradiography
                    pull down, western blot
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
                    pull down, autoradiography, two hybrid, western blot, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation
                    x-ray crystallography, predetermined participant, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, isothermal titration calorimetry, molecular sieving, pull down, autoradiography, two hybrid, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
                    RNA-protein
                    Interacting group
                    Assay
                    References
                    detection by mass spectrometry, comigration in gel electrophoresis, molecular weight estimation by staining, protein cross-linking with a bifunctional reagent, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
                    pull down, autoradiography, two hybrid, western blot, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation
                    protein-protein
                    Interacting group
                    Assay
                    References
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
                    bimolecular fluorescence complementation, fluorescence microscopy
                    two hybrid, pull down, autoradiography
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
                    two hybrid array
                    pull down, autoradiography, two hybrid, western blot, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
                    RNA-protein
                    Interacting group
                    Assay
                    References
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, full identification by RNA sequencing, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, quantitative reverse transcription pcr
                    pull down, Identification by mass spectrometry
                    pull down, Identification by mass spectrometry
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, reverse transcription pcr
                    pull down, autoradiography, two hybrid, western blot, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation
                    pull down, autoradiography, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, partial DNA sequence identification by hybridization, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, quantitative reverse transcription pcr
                    protein-protein
                    Interacting group
                    Assay
                    References
                    enzymatic study, autoradiography
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, pull down
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, pull down, anti tag western blot, two hybrid, molecular weight estimation by staining, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
                    two hybrid, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, pull down, autoradiography, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
                    two hybrid, fluorescent resonance energy transfer, pull down, western blot, autoradiography, experimental knowledge based, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
                    pull down, molecular weight estimation by staining
                    pull down, molecular weight estimation by staining, autoradiography, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, x-ray crystallography, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, molecular sieving, two hybrid, static light scattering, molecular weight, peptide massfingerprinting
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, fluorescence polarization spectroscopy, predetermined participant, pull down, molecular weight estimation by staining, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, molecular sieving, molecular weight estimation by coomasie staining, coimmunoprecipitation, molecular weight estimation by silver staining, Identification by mass spectrometry, autoradiography
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
                    experimental knowledge based
                    pull down, western blot, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
                    protein-protein
                    Interacting group
                    Assay
                    References
                    x-ray crystallography
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting, two hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, fluorescence microscopy, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, western blot
                    bimolecular fluorescence complementation, fluorescence microscopy, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, western blot, two hybrid
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
                    molecular sieving, molecular weight estimation by staining, two hybrid, pull down, isothermal titration calorimetry, predetermined participant, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, quantitative reverse transcription pcr, two hybrid
                    three hybrid, molecular sieving, molecular weight estimation by staining, pull down, western blot, anti tag western blot, transcriptional complementation assay
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
                    pull down, molecular weight estimation by staining, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, primer specific pcr
                    bimolecular fluorescence complementation, fluorescence microscopy, two hybrid, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
                    RNA-protein
                    Interacting group
                    Assay
                    References
                    iclip, partial RNA sequence identification
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, primer specific pcr
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, primer specific pcr
                    electrophoretic mobility shift assay, autoradiography, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, primer specific pcr
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, primer specific pcr
                    microscale thermophoresis, predetermined participant, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, quantitative reverse transcription pcr, nucleic acid uv cross-linking assay, Identification by mass spectrometry, molecular sieving, static light scattering, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, autoradiography
                    electrophoretic mobility shift assay, autoradiography, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, primer specific pcr
                    electrophoretic mobility shift assay, autoradiography, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, primer specific pcr
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, quantitative reverse transcription pcr
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, quantitative reverse transcription pcr, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, primer specific pcr
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, quantitative reverse transcription pcr, two hybrid
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, primer specific pcr
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, primer specific pcr
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, northern blot
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, primer specific pcr
                    pull down, molecular weight estimation by staining, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, primer specific pcr
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, primer specific pcr
                    electrophoretic mobility shift assay, autoradiography, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, quantitative reverse transcription pcr
                    protein-protein
                    Interacting group
                    Assay
                    References
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting, experimental knowledge based, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
                    molecular sieving, western blot, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry, ion exchange chromatography
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
                    coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
                    pull down, western blot
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, affinity technology, peptide massfingerprinting, pull down, autoradiography, experimental knowledge based, molecular sieving, ion exchange chromatography, Identification by mass spectrometry
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, anti tag western blot, Identification by mass spectrometry, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation
                    pull down, autoradiography
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
                    tandem affinity purification, Identification by mass spectrometry
                    pull down, autoradiography
                    RNA-protein
                    Interacting group
                    Assay
                    References
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, quantitative reverse transcription pcr
                    anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, quantitative reverse transcription pcr
                    protein-protein
                    Interacting group
                    Assay
                    References
                    anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
                    Alleles Reported to Model Human Disease (Disease Ontology) (30 alleles)
                    Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 1 )
                    Allele
                    Disease
                    Evidence
                    References
                    Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 1 )
                    Allele
                    Disease
                    Interaction
                    References
                    Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 1 )
                    Allele
                    Disease
                    Evidence
                    References
                    Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 1 )
                    Allele
                    Disease
                    Interaction
                    References
                    Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 3 )
                    Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 5 )
                    Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 2 )
                    Allele
                    Disease
                    Evidence
                    References
                    Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 0 )
                    Allele
                    Disease
                    Interaction
                    References
                    Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 9 )
                    Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 8 )
                    Allele
                    Disease
                    Interaction
                    References
                    Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 6 )
                    Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 3 )
                    Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 0 )
                    Allele
                    Disease
                    Evidence
                    References
                    Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 1 )
                    Allele
                    Disease
                    Interaction
                    References
                    Alleles Representing Disease-Implicated Variants
                    Genetic Tools, Stocks and Reagents
                    Sources of Stocks
                    Contact lab of origin for a reagent not available from a public stock center.
                    Bloomington Stock Center Disease Page
                    Related mammalian, viral, bacterial, or synthetic transgenes
                    Allele
                    Transgene
                    Publicly Available Stocks
                    Selected Drosophila transgenes
                    Allele
                    Transgene
                    Publicly Available Stocks
                    RNAi constructs available
                    Allele
                    Transgene
                    Publicly Available Stocks
                    Selected Drosophila classical alleles
                    Allele
                    Allele class
                    Mutagen
                    Publicly Available Stocks
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    PM hybrid dysgenesis
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    diepoxybutane
                    loss of function allele
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    ethyl methanesulfonate
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    diepoxybutane
                    ethyl nitrosourea
                    ethyl methanesulfonate
                    amorphic allele - molecular evidence
                    formaldehyde
                    ethyl methanesulfonate
                    amorphic allele - molecular evidence
                    ethyl methanesulfonate
                    amorphic allele - molecular evidence
                    ethyl methanesulfonate
                    loss of function allele
                    CRISPR/Cas9
                    loss of function allele
                    ethyl methanesulfonate
                    loss of function allele
                    ethyl methanesulfonate
                    ethyl methanesulfonate
                    ethyl methanesulfonate
                    amorphic allele - molecular evidence
                    Delta2-3 transposase
                    loss of function allele
                    Delta2-3 transposase
                    amorphic allele - molecular evidence
                    Delta2-3 transposase
                    loss of function allele
                    Delta2-3 transposase
                    loss of function allele
                    P-element activity
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    Delta2-3 transposase
                    loss of function allele
                    Delta2-3 transposase
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    ethyl methanesulfonate
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    Delta2-3 transposase
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    ethyl methanesulfonate
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    Delta2-3 transposase
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    ethyl methanesulfonate
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    Delta2-3 transposase
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    P-element activity
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    ethyl methanesulfonate
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    ethyl methanesulfonate
                    loss of function allele
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    Delta2-3 transposase
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    ethyl methanesulfonate
                    amorphic allele - genetic evidence
                    ethyl methanesulfonate
                    amorphic allele - molecular evidence
                    CRISPR/Cas9
                    References (33)