Germline stem cells: the first guards of heredity.
The genes involved in the cellular response to DNA damage are crucial for ensuring DNA integrity during spermatogenesis. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Takubo et al. (2008) show that ATM, a key kinase of the DNA damage response, is also involved in maintaining the stem cell potential of undifferentiated spermatogonia.
Barroca
Vilma
V
CEA, DSV, iRCM, SCSR, Laboratoire Gamétogenèse, Apoptose, Genotoxicité and INSERM, Unité 566, F-92265, Fontenay aux Roses, France.
Fouchet
Pierre
P
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004260:DNA Repair; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D040941:Heredity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; C576325:Atm protein, mouse; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases