CREM: a master-switch regulating the balance between differentiation and apoptosis in male germ cells.
Cyclic AMP-responsive element modulator (CREM) is a transcription factor highly expressed in the post-meiotic germ cells of the testis. Its pivotal role is to regulate the expression of several germ cell-specific genes, a crucial function as demonstrated by the severe phenotype of mice whose CREM gene was mutated by homologous recombination. CREM-deficient male animals are sterile and display a ten-fold increase in the apoptosis of germ cells. Recent results have shown that CREM needs a tissue-specific co-activator, ACT (activator of CREM in testis) to elicit its regulatory function in testis.
Sassone-Corsi
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Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Strasbourg, France. paolosc@igbmc.u-strasbg.fr
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D051786:Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D060588:LIM Domain Proteins; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C504657:Fhl5 protein, mouse; D060588:LIM Domain Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C117930:activator of CREM in testis (ACT); D051786:Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator