Projects per year
Abstract
Mouse primordial germ cells (PGCs), originate from the early post-implantation epiblast in response to BMP4 secreted by the extraembryonic ectoderm. However, how BMP4 acts here has remained unclear. Recent work has identified the transcription factor (TF), OTX2 as a key determinant of the segregation of the germline from the soma. OTX2 is expressed ubiquitously in the early post-implantation epiblast, decreasing rapidly in cells that initiate the PGC programme. Otx2 mRNA is also rapidly repressed by BMP4 in vitro, in germline competent cells. Supporting a model in which BMP4 represses Otx2, enforcing sustained OTX2 expression in competent cells blocks germline entry. In contrast, Otx2-null epiblast cells enter the germline with increased efficiency in vitro and in vivo and can do so independently of BMP4. Also, Otx2-null cells can initiate germline entry even without the crucial PGC TF, BLIMP1. In this review, we survey recent advances and propose hypotheses concerning germline entry.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 3064-3071 |
Journal | Cell Cycle |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 22 |
Early online date | 4 Oct 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 4 Oct 2019 |
Keywords
- Primordial germ cell
- germline competent
- formative pluripotency
- transcription factors
- OTX2
- NANOG
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Dive into the research topics of 'Segregation of the mouse germline and soma'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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Dynamic transcription factor function in control of pluripotent cell sub-states
1/06/14 → 31/05/19
Project: Research
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Pluripotency transcription factor function during primordial germ cell development
31/03/14 → 31/07/17
Project: Research