Novel growth factor supporting survival of murine primordial germ cells: evidence from conditioned medium ofter fetal gonadal somatic cells

2001 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 384-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuji Takabayashi ◽  
Yumiko Sasaoka ◽  
Masayo Yamashita ◽  
Toshinobu Tokumoto ◽  
Katsutoshi Ishikawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Conditioned Medium ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Primordial Germ Cells ◽  
Somatic Cells

scholarly journals Specification of the germline by Nanos-dependent down-regulation of the somatic synMuvB transcription factor LIN-15B

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Yung S. Lee ◽  
Tu Lu ◽  
Geraldine Seydoux
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Primordial Germ Cells ◽  
Somatic Cells ◽  
Rna Binding Protein ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Embryonic Cells ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

AbstractThe Nanos RNA-binding protein has been implicated in the specification of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in metazoans, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. We have profiled the transcriptome of PGCs lacking the nanos homologues nos-1 and nos-2 iC. elegans. nos-1nos-2 PGCs fail to silence hundreds of genes normally expressed in oocytes and somatic cells, a phenotype reminiscent of PGCs lacking the repressive PRC2 complex. The nos-1nos-2 phenotype depends on LIN-15B, a broadly expressed synMuvB class transcription factor known to antagonize PRC2 activity in somatic cells. LIN-15B is maternally-inherited by all embryonic cells and is down-regulated specifically in PGCs in a nos-1nos-2-dependent manner. Consistent with LIN-15B being a critical target of Nanos regulation, inactivation of maternal LIN-15B restores fertility to nos-1nos-2 mutants. These studies demonstrate a central role for Nanos in reprogramming the transcriptome of PGCs away from an oocyte/somatic fate by down-regulating an antagonist of PRC2 activity.

scholarly journals Characterization of Telomeric Repeat-Containing RNA (TERRA) localization and protein interactions in Primordial Germ Cells of the mouse

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Angel Brieno-Enriquez ◽  
Stefannie L. Moak ◽  
Anyul Abud-Flores ◽  
Paula Elaine Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cells ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Primordial Germ Cells ◽  
Somatic Cells ◽  
Telomeric Repeat ◽  
Telomere Maintenance ◽  
Interacting Proteins ◽  
Dna Repeats ◽  
Rna Fish

Telomeres are dynamic nucleoprotein structures capping the physical ends of linear eukaryotic chromosomes. They consist of telomeric DNA repeats (TTAGGG), the shelterin protein complex, and Telomeric Repeat-Containing RNA (TERRA). Proposed TERRA functions are wide-ranging and include telomere maintenance, telomerase inhibition, genomic stability, and alternative lengthening of telomere. However, the role of TERRA in primordial germ cells (PGCs), the embryonic precursors of germ cells, is unknown. Using RNA-fluorescence in situ hybridization (RNA-FISH) we identify TERRA in PGCs soon after these cells have migrated to, and become established in, the developing gonad. RNA-FISH showed the presence of TERRA transcripts in female PGCs at 11.5, 12.5 and 13.5 days post-coitum. In male PGCs, however, TERRA transcripts are observable from 12.5 dpc. Using qPCR we evaluated chromosome-specific TERRA expression, and demonstrated that TERRA levels vary with sex and gestational age, and that transcription of TERRA from specific chromosomes is sexually dimorphic. TERRA interacting proteins were evaluated using Identification of Direct RNA Interacting Proteins (iDRiP) which identified 48 in female and 26 in male protein interactors specifically within nuclear extracts from PGCs at 13.5 dpc. We validated two different proteins the splicing factor, proline- and glutamine-rich (SFPQ) in PGCs and Non-POU domain-containing octamer-binding protein (NONO) in somatic cells. Our results show that, TERRA interacting proteins are determined by sex in both PGCs and somatic cells. Taken together, our data indicate that TERRA expression and interactome during PGC development are regulated in a dynamic fashion that is dependent on gestational age and sex.

scholarly journals The Central Role of Cadherins in Gonad Development, Reproduction and Fertility

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafał P. Piprek ◽  
Malgorzata Kloc ◽  
Paulina Mizia ◽  
Jacek Z. KUBIAK
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cells ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Primordial Germ Cells ◽  
Somatic Cells ◽  
Gonad Development ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Germline Development

Cadherins are a group of membrane proteins responsible for cell adhesion. They are crucial for cell sorting and recognition during the morphogenesis, but also play many other roles such as assuring tissue integrity and resistance to stretching, mechanotransduction, cell signaling, regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, survival, carcinogenesis, etc. Within the cadherin superfamily, the E- and N-cadherin have been especially well studied. They are involved in many aspects of sexual development and reproduction, such as germline development and gametogenesis, gonad development and functioning, and fertilization. E-cadherin is expressed in the primordial germ cells, (PGCs) and also participates in PGC migration to the developing gonads where they become enclosed by the N-cadherin-expressing somatic cells. The differential expression of cadherins is also responsible for the establishment of the testis or ovary structure. In the adult testes, the N-cadherin is responsible for the integrity of the seminiferous epithelium, regulation of sperm production, and the establishment of the blood-testis barrier. Sex hormones regulate the expression and turnover of N-cadherin influencing the course of spermatogenesis. In the adult ovaries, E- and N-cadherin assure the integrity of ovarian follicles and the formation of corpora lutea. Cadherins are expressed in the mature gametes, and facilitate the capacitation of sperm in the female reproductive tract, and gamete contact during fertilization. The germ cells and accompanying somatic cells express a series of different cadherins, however, their role in gonads and reproduction is still unknown. In this review, we show what is known and unknown about the role of cadherins in the germline and gonad development, and suggest the topics for future research.

Signaling from germ cells mediated by therhomboidhomologstetorganizes encapsulation by somatic support cells

Development ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 129 (19) ◽  
pp. 4523-4534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cordula Schulz ◽  
Cricket G. Wood ◽  
D. Leanne Jones ◽  
Salli I. Tazuke ◽  
Margaret T. Fuller
Keyword(s):  
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Epidermal Growth Factor ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Somatic Cells ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Germ Cell Differentiation ◽  
Epidermal Growth ◽  
Set Up

Germ cells normally differentiate in the context of encapsulating somatic cells. However, the mechanisms that set up the special relationship between germ cells and somatic support cells and the signals that mediate the crucial communications between the two cell types are poorly understood. We show that interactions between germ cells and somatic support cells in Drosophila depend on wild-type function of the stet gene. In males, stet acts in germ cells to allow their encapsulation by somatic cyst cells and is required for germ cell differentiation. In females, stet function allows inner sheath cells to enclose early germ cells correctly at the tip of the germarium. stet encodes a homolog of rhomboid, a component of the epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway involved in ligand activation in the signaling cell. The stet mutant phenotype suggests that stet facilitates signaling from germ cells to the epidermal growth factor receptor on somatic cells, resulting in the encapsulation of germ cells by somatic support cells. The micro-environment provided by the surrounding somatic cells may, in turn, regulate differentiation of the germ cells they enclose.

Mouse embryonic germ (EG) cell lines: transmission through the germline and differences in the methylation imprint of insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (Igf2r) gene compared with embryonic stem (ES) cell lines

Development ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 120 (11) ◽  
pp. 3197-3204 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.A. Labosky ◽  
D.P. Barlow ◽  
B.L. Hogan
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Germ Cell ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Coat Color ◽  
Primordial Germ Cells ◽  
Methylation Status ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽  
Significant Difference

Primordial germ cells of the mouse cultured on feeder layers with leukemia inhibitory factor, Steel factor and basic fibroblast growth factor give rise to cells that resemble undifferentiated blastocyst-derived embryonic stem cells. These primordial germ cell-derived embryonic germ cells can be induced to differentiate extensively in culture, form teratocarcinomas when injected into nude mice and contribute to chimeras when injected into host blastocysts. Here, we report the derivation of multiple embryonic germ cell lines from 8.5 days post coitum embryos of C57BL/6 inbred mice. Four independent embryonic germ cell lines with normal male karyotypes have formed chimeras when injected into BALB/c host blastocysts and two of these lines have transmitted coat color markers through the germline. We also show that pluripotent cell lines capable of forming teratocarcinomas and coat color chimeras can be established from primordial germ cells of 8.0 days p.c. embryos and 12.5 days p.c. genital ridges. We have examined the methylation status of the putative imprinting box of the insulin-like growth factor type 2 receptor gene (Igf2r) in these embryonic germ cell lines. No correlation was found between methylation pattern and germline competence. A significant difference was observed between embryonic stem cell and embryonic germ cell lines in their ability to maintain the methylation imprint of the Igf2r gene in culture. This may illustrate a fundamental difference between these two cell types.

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