Germ cells articles from across Nature Portfolio

Uncoupling of mature oocytes from somatic granulosa cells is required for their fertilization. Here the authors show that activation of EGFR signalling in granulosa cells during ovulation triggers ERK-dependent loss of filopodia oocyte adhesion, and Arp2/3 mediated retraction of granulosa cell filopodia.

Zika virus (ZIKV) can persist for months in semen and sperm. Here, the authors show that germ cells, compared to other cell types in the reproductive tract, are most susceptible to ZIKV and produce high levels of progeny virus, which coincides with decreased expression of the interferon-stimulated gene Ifi44l.

A new study in Nature reports a large-scale genome-wide association study of menopause timing, revealing mechanistic details and potential therapeutic opportunities for preserving human fertility.

Daniel Gerlich discusses how a study by the Hyman laboratory introduced the theory of liquid phase separation to cell biology and its implications for the understanding of cell organization and function.

Azim Surani discusses how induced pluripotent stem cells have enabled researchers to demonstrate that it is possible to cross the germ line–soma barrier, known as the Weismann barrier.

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the earliest population of germ cells established during embryonic development and constitute the beginning of the totipotent state. A recent study provides a new protocol for the efficient generation of PGC-like cells from human embryonic stem cells, providing an in vitro platform to study human PGC differentiation and specification.