Authors

Mark S. Fox, Center for Reproductive Sciences; Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Center; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences; Institute for Stem Cell and Tissue Biology; Departments of Physiology and Urology; University of California at San Francisco
Amander T. Clark, Center for Reproductive Sciences; Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Center; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences; Institute for Stem Cell and Tissue Biology; Departments of Physiology and Urology; University of California at San Francisco
Mohammed El Majdoubi, Center for Reproductive Sciences; Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Center; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences; Institute for Stem Cell and Tissue Biology; Departments of Physiology and Urology; University of California at San FranciscoFollow
Jean-Louis Vigne, Center for Reproductive Sciences; Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Center; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences; Institute for Stem Cell and Tissue Biology; Departments of Physiology and Urology; University of California at San Francisco
Jun Urano, Center for Reproductive Sciences; Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Center; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences; Institute for Stem Cell and Tissue Biology; Departments of Physiology and Urology; University of California at San Francisco
Chris E. Hostetler, School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University
Michael D. Griswold, School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University
Richard I. Weiner, Center for Reproductive Sciences; Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Center; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences; Institute for Stem Cell and Tissue Biology; Departments of Physiology and Urology; University of California at San FranciscoFollow
Renee A. Reijo Pera, Center for Reproductive Sciences; Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Center; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences; Institute for Stem Cell and Tissue Biology; Departments of Physiology and Urology; University of California at San Francisco

Document Type

Article

Source

Developmental Biology

ISSN

0012-1606

Volume

301

Issue

2

First Page

417

Last Page

431

Publication Date

1-15-2007

Department

Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Abstract

In some species such as flies, worms, frogs, and fish the key to forming and maintaining early germ cell populations is the assembly of germ plasm, croscopically-distinct egg cytoplasm that is rich in RNAs, RNA-binding proteins and ribosomes. Cells which inherit germ plasm are destined for the germ cell lineage. In contrast, in mammals, germ cells are formed and maintained later in development as a result of inductive signaling from one embryonic cell type to another. Research advances, using complementary approaches, including identification of key signaling factors that act during the initial stages of germ cell development, differentiation of germ cells in vitro from mouse and human embryonic stem cells and the demonstration, that homologs of germ plasm components are conserved in mammals, have shed light on key elements in the early development of mammalian germ cells. Here, we use FRET (Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer) to demonstrate that living mammalian germ cells possess specific RNA/protein complexes that contain germ plasm homologs, beginning in the earliest stages of development examined. Moreover, we demonstrate that although both human and mouse germ cells and embryonic stem cells express the same proteins, germ cell specific protein/protein interactions distinguish germ cells from precursor embryonic stem cells in vitro; interactions also determine sub-cellular localization of complex components. Finally, we suggest that assembly of similar protein complexes may be central to differentiation of diverse cell lineages and provide useful diagnostic tools for isolation of specific cell types from the assorted types differentiated from embryonic stem cells.

Rights

Copyright © 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc.

PubMed ID

16996493

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