Germline development

Epigenetic inheritance is the transfer of non-DNA information across generations. A new study identifies sperm-specific PEI granules as essential for paternal epigenetic inheritance. PEI granule partitioning to sperm requires palmitoylation and myosin VI activity, suggesting lipidation-dependent granule transport on vesicles.

The maternal diet can impact offspring development, yet the mechanisms responsible for this remain largely unknown. New research shows that oocyte metabolites, specifically NAD⁺ and the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine, can mediate the impact of maternal nutrient stress on the progeny through metabolic reprogramming in Drosophila.

Mice deficient in the piRNA pathway display sterility only in males. Taking advantage of a more representative piRNA pathway in golden hamsters, three studies now demonstrate that the piRNA pathway is essential for fertility in hamsters of both sexes and thus strongly link this small RNA pathway to fertility regulation in both men and women.

A co-culture system to mimic the development of functional mouse oocytes in vitro.

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.