title: Unique aspects of transcription regulation in male germ cells.
abstract: Spermatogenesis is a complex and ordered differentiation process in which the spermatogonial stem cell population gives rise to primary spermatocytes that undergo two successive meiotic divisions followed by a major biochemical and structural reorganization of the haploid cells to generate mature elongate spermatids. The transcriptional regulatory programs that orchestrate this process have been intensively studied in model organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster and mouse. Genetic and biochemical approaches have identified the factors involved and revealed mechanisms of action that are unique to male germ cells. In a well-studied example, cofactors and pathways distinct from those used in somatic tissues mediate the action of CREM in male germ cells. But perhaps the most striking feature concerns the paralogs of somatically expressed transcription factors and of components of the general transcription machinery that act in distinct regulatory mechanisms in both Drosophila and murine spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: White-Cooper
authors.forename: Irwin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051786:Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006238:Haploidy; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D051786:Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator