Regulated nucleocytoplasmic transport during gametogenesis.
Gametogenesis is the process by which sperm or ova are produced in the gonads. It is governed by a tightly controlled series of gene expression events, with some common and others distinct for males and females. Nucleocytoplasmic transport is of central importance to the fidelity of gene regulation that is required to achieve the precisely regulated germ cell differentiation essential for fertility. In this review we discuss the physiological importance for gamete formation of the molecules involved in classical nucleocytoplasmic protein transport, including importins/karyopherins, Ran and nucleoporins. To address what functions/factors are conserved or specialized for these developmental processes between species, we compare knowledge from mice, flies and worms. The present analysis provides evidence of the necessity for and specificity of each nuclear transport factor and for nucleoporins during germ cell differentiation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Nuclear Transport and RNA Processing.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia. Yoichi.Miyamoto@monash.edu
Yoichi
Y
Miyamoto
Peter R
PR
Boag
Gary R
GR
Hime
Kate L
KL
Loveland
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D003593:Cytoplasm; D005718:Gametogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D028884:Karyopherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D028861:Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000235:genetics
D028884:Karyopherins; D028861:Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins