title: An unregulated regulator: Vasa expression in the development of somatic cells and in tumorigenesis.
abstract: Growing evidence in diverse organisms shows that genes originally thought to function uniquely in the germ line may also function in somatic cells, and in some cases even contribute to tumorigenesis. Here we review the somatic functions of Vasa, one of the most conserved "germ line" factors among metazoans. Vasa expression in somatic cells is tightly regulated and often transient during normal development, and appears to play essential roles in regulation of embryonic cells and regenerative tissues. Its dysregulation, however, is believed to be an important element of tumorigenic cell regulation. In this perspectives paper, we propose how some conserved functions of Vasa may be selected for somatic cell regulation, including its potential impact on efficient and localized translational activities and in some cases on cellular malfunctioning and tumorigenesis.
authors.affiliation: MCB Department, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, BOX-GL173, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.affiliation: MCB Department, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, BOX-GL173, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Wessel
authors.affiliation: MCB Department, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, BOX-GL173, Providence, RI 02912, USA. Electronic address: Mamiko_Yajima@brown.edu.
authors.forename: Mamiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yajima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000502:physiology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D006019:Glycolysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008938:Mitosis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012038:Regeneration
chemical_list: D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases
keywords: DDX4; Germ line factors; Translation; Tumorigenesis; Vasa