title: Primordial Germ Cell Specification and Migration.
abstract: Primordial germ cells are the progenitor cells that give rise to the gametes. In some animals, the germline is induced by zygotic transcription factors, whereas in others, primordial germ cell specification occurs via inheritance of maternally provided gene products known as germ plasm. Once specified, the primordial germ cells of some animals must acquire motility and migrate to the gonad in order to survive. In all animals examined, perinuclear structures called germ granules form within germ cells. This review focuses on some of the recent studies, conducted by several groups using diverse systems, from invertebrates to vertebrates, which have provided mechanistic insight into the molecular regulation of germ cell specification and migration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marlow
keywords: Germ Granules; Germ Plasm Assemblers; Germline Identity; Migration; Primordial Germ Cell; Primordial Germ Cell Specification; gametes; germ plasm