Actin restricts cell proliferation and promotes differentiation during planarian regeneration

Actin is an integral component of the cytoskeleton, which plays an important role in various fundamental cellular processes, such as affecting the polarity of embryonic cells during embryonic development in various model organisms. Meanwhile, previous studies have demonstrated that the polymerization of the actin cytoskeleton can affect cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Actin polymerization state regulated osteogenic differentiation and affected cell proliferation. However, the function of actin in regenerative biology has not been thoroughly elucidated. The planarian flatworm, which contains a large number of adult somatic stem cells (neoblasts), is an ideal model organism to study regenerative biology. Here, we identified a homolog of actin in planarian Dugesia japonica and found that RNAi targeting actin during planarian regeneration results in the formation of protrusions on the dorsal side, where the division of phospho-H3 mitotic cells is increased. In addition, a decrease in differentiation is observed in regenerating tissues after Djactin RNAi. These results indicate that Djactin functions in proliferation and differentiation control in planarian regeneration. •Actin is required for planarian regeneration by regulating proliferation and differentiation control.•Actin RNAi induces stem cell hyper-proliferation and results in the formation of protrusions.•Inhibition actin decreases the differentiation in regenerating tissues.