Dazl promotes germ cell differentiation from embryonic stem cells.
It has been demonstrated that through the formation of embryoid bodies (EBs) germ cells can be derived from embryonic stem (ES) cells. Here, we describe a transgene expression approach to derive germ cells directly from ES cells in vitro without EB formation. Through the ectopic expression of Deleted in Azoospermia-Like (Dazl), a germ cell-specific RNA-binding protein, both motile tailed-sperm and oocytes were induced from mouse ES (mES) cells in culture. Furthermore, transient overexpression of Dazl led to suppression of Nanog but induced germ cell nuclear antigen in mES cells. Dazl knockdown resulted in reduction in the expression of germ cell markers including Stella, MVH and Prdm1. Our study indicates that Dazl is a master gene controlling germ cell differentiation and that ectopic expression of Dazl promotes the dynamic differentiation of mouse ES cells into gametes in vitro.
Laboratory for Germ Cell Research, Institute of Medical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
Zhuo
Z
Yu
Ping
P
Ji
Jinping
J
Cao
Shu
S
Zhu
Yao
Y
Li
Lin
L
Zheng
Xuejin
X
Chen
Lixin
L
Feng
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D013082:Sperm Tail / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection
D015415:Biomarkers; C508515:DAZL protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; C475540:Nanog protein, mouse; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins