title: Retinoic acid activates two pathways required for meiosis in mice.
abstract: In all sexually reproducing organisms, cells of the germ line must transition from mitosis to meiosis. In mice, retinoic acid (RA), the extrinsic signal for meiotic initiation, activates transcription of Stra8, which is required for meiotic DNA replication and the subsequent processes of meiotic prophase. Here we report that RA also activates transcription of Rec8, which encodes a component of the cohesin complex that accumulates during meiotic S phase, and which is essential for chromosome synapsis and segregation. This RA induction of Rec8 occurs in parallel with the induction of Stra8, and independently of Stra8 function, and it is conserved between the sexes. Further, RA induction of Rec8, like that of Stra8, requires the germ-cell-intrinsic competence factor Dazl. Our findings strengthen the importance of RA and Dazl in the meiotic transition, provide important details about the Stra8 pathway, and open avenues to investigate early meiosis through analysis of Rec8 induction and function.
authors.affiliation: Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koubova
authors.affiliation: Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Yueh-Chiang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Tanmoy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bhattacharyya
authors.affiliation: Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Y Q Shirleen
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Soh
authors.affiliation: Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.affiliation: Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Goodheart
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Cathryn A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hogarth
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Griswold
authors.affiliation: Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Page
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008938:Mitosis / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; C508515:DAZL protein, mouse; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C465863:Rec8 protein, mouse; C102019:Stra8 protein, mouse; D014212:Tretinoin
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