Journal of cellular biochemistry
-
Self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells are defined by the ensembles of genes expressed by these cells. Here we report identification of a novel gene named Jedi, which is expressed predominantly in short- and long-term repopulating stem cells when compared to more mature bone marrow progenitors. Jedi mRNA encodes a transmembrane protein that contains multiple EGF-like repeats. ⋯ In addition, expression of Jedi in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts resulted in a decreased number of late and early myeloid progenitors in the non-adherent co-cultured bone marrow cells. Jedi shares a number of structural features with the Jagged/Serrate/Delta family of Notch ligands, and our experiments indicate that the extracellular domain of Jedi, similar to the corresponding domain of Jagged1, inhibits Notch signaling. On the basis of obtained results, we suggest that Jedi is involved in the fine regulation of the early stages of hematopoietic differentiation, presumably through the Notch signaling pathway.