Letter abstract
Nature Genetics 40, 1016 - 1022 (2008)
Published online: 11 July 2008 | doi:10.1038/ng.186
Critical function of Prdm14 for the establishment of the germ cell lineage in mice
Masashi Yamaji1,2,3, Yoshiyuki Seki1,3, Kazuki Kurimoto1,3, Yukihiro Yabuta1, Mihoko Yuasa1, Mayo Shigeta1, Kaori Yamanaka1, Yasuhide Ohinata1 & Mitinori Saitou1,2
Specification of germ cell fate is fundamental in development and heredity. Recent evidence indicates that in mice, specification of primordial germ cells (PGCs), the common source of both oocytes and spermatozoa, occurs through the integration of three key events: repression of the somatic program1, reacquisition of potential pluripotency2, 3 and ensuing genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming4, 5. Here we provide genetic evidence that Prdm14, a PR domain–containing transcriptional regulator with exclusive expression in the germ cell lineage and pluripotent cell lines, is critical in two of these events, the reacquisition of potential pluripotency and successful epigenetic reprogramming. In Prdm14 mutants, the failure of these two events manifests even in the presence of Prdm1 (also known as Blimp1), a key transcriptional regulator for PGC specification6, 7. Our combined evidence demonstrates that Prdm14 defines a previously unknown genetic pathway, initiating independently from Prdm1, for ensuring the launching of the mammalian germ cell lineage.
- Laboratory for Mammalian Germ Cell Biology, Center for Developmental Biology, RIKEN Kobe Institute, 2-2-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan.
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology and Development, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
- These authors contributed equally to this work.
Correspondence to: Mitinori Saitou1,2 e-mail: saitou@cdb.riken.jp
MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS
These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.
NEWS AND VIEWS
One PRDM is not enough for germ cell developmentNature Genetics News and Views (01 Aug 2008)
Many ways to pluripotencyNature Biotechnology News and Views (01 Oct 2007)
See all 5 matches for News And ViewsRESEARCH
FRET imagingNature Biotechnology Research (01 Nov 2003)
Blimp1 is a critical determinant of the germ cell lineage in miceNature Article (14 Jul 2005)
See all 31 matches for Research
