The cell cycle regulator Cdh1 controls the pool sizes of hematopoietic stem cells and mature lineage progenitors by protecting from genotoxic stress.

Various key cell cycle components, especially G0/G1 regulators, have effects not only on cell proliferation but also on cell differentiation. Cdh1, one of the co-activators that maintain anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome activity, plays a crucial role in the mitotic phase, but has recently been identified as a G0/G1 regulator, suggesting that the role of Cdh1 in cell differentiation. Here, we generated Cdh1 conditional gene-trap mice to examine Cdh1 functions in adult tissues by overcoming the embryonic lethality of Cdh1 homozygous gene-trap mice. We focused on the hematopoietic system and found that Cdh1-deficient mice exhibited a general decrease in mature lineage progenitor cells and a significant increase in short-term hematopoietic stem cells. This phenomenon became conspicuous by irradiation shortly after Cdh1 downregulation, suggesting that Cdh1 regulates the pool sizes of the hematopoietic stem cells and mature lineage progenitor cells by protecting cells from genotoxic stress. We also found that the irradiation-induced G2/M checkpoint was defective in Cdh1-deficient BM cells, causing the loss of stem/progenitor cells. This is the first report revealing Cdh1 function in adult hematopoiesis and showing a role of Cdh1 in a G2/M checkpoint regulation in vivo.