A molecular programme for the specification of germ cell fate in mice.
Germ cell fate in mice is induced in proximal epiblast cells by the extra-embryonic ectoderm, and is not acquired through the inheritance of any preformed germ plasm. To determine precisely how germ cells are specified, we performed a genetic screen between single nascent germ cells and their somatic neighbours that share common ancestry. Here we show that fragilis, an interferon-inducible transmembrane protein, marks the onset of germ cell competence, and we propose that through homotypic association, it demarcates germ cells from somatic neighbours. Using single-cell gene expression profiles, we also show that only those cells with the highest expression of fragilis subsequently express stella, a gene that we detected exclusively in lineage-restricted germ cells. The stella positive nascent germ cells exhibit repression of homeobox genes, which may explain their escape from a somatic cell fate and the retention of pluripotency.
Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Institute of Cancer and Developmental Biology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QR, UK.
Mitinori
M
Saitou
Sheila C
SC
Barton
M Azim
MA
Surani
D000818:Animals; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D004627:Embryonic Induction; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000235:genetics; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
C525810:Bmp4 protein, mouse; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; C462180:Dppa3 protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C462181:fragilis protein, mouse