The pro-apoptotic gene Bax is required for the death of ectopic primordial germ cells during their migration in the mouse embryo.
In the mouse embryo, significant numbers of primordial germ cells (PGCs) fail to migrate correctly to the genital ridges early in organogenesis. These usually die in ectopic locations. In humans, 50% of pediatric germ line tumors arise outside the gonads, and these are thought to arise from PGCs that fail to die in ectopic locations. We show that the pro-apoptotic gene Bax, previously shown to be required for germ cell death during later stages of their differentiation in the gonads, is also expressed during germ cell migration, and is required for the normal death of germ cells left in ectopic locations during and after germ cell migration. In addition, we show that Bax is downstream of the known cell survival signaling interaction mediated by the Steel factor/Kit ligand/receptor interaction. Together, these observations identify the major mechanism that removes ectopic germ cells from the embryo at early stages.
Stallock
James
J
Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
Molyneaux
Kathy
K
Schaible
Kyle
K
Knudson
C Michael
CM
Wylie
Christopher
C
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D016923:Cell Death; D002465:Cell Movement; D002470:Cell Survival; D002828:Choristoma / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
C494827:Bax protein, mouse; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins