A Zebrafish Nanos-related Gene is Essential for the Development of Primordial Germ Cells

Overview

Journal Genes Dev

Specialty Molecular Biology

Date 2001 Nov 3

PMID 11691838

Citations 177

Authors

M Koprunner

C Thisse

B Thisse

E Raz

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Asymmetrically distributed cytoplasmic determinants collectively termed germ plasm have been shown to play an essential role in the development of primordial germ cells (PGCs). Here, we report the identification of a nanos-like (nanos1) gene, which is expressed in the germ plasm and in the PGCs of the zebrafish. We find that several mechanisms act in concert to restrict the activity of Nanos1 to the germ cells including RNA localization and control over the stability and translatability of the RNA. Reducing the level of Nanos1 in zebrafish embryos revealed an essential role for the protein in ensuring proper migration and survival of PGCs in this vertebrate model organism.

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