Mechanisms of Vertebrate Germ Cell Determination in Early Vertebrate Development: the egg-to-embryo transition

TRISTÁN AGÜERO; SUSANNAH KASSMER; RAMIRO ALBERIO; ANDREW JOHNSON; MARY LOU KING

Vertebrate development

Springer

Lugar: Puducherry; Año: 2016;

Two unique characteristics of the germline are the ability to persist from generation to generation and to retain full developmental potential while differentiating into gametes.  How the germline is specified that allows it to retain these characteristics within the context of a developing embryo remains unknown and is one focus of current research.  Germ cell specification proceeds through one of two basic mechanisms: cell autonomous or inductive.  Here, we discuss how germ plasm driven germ cell specification (cell autonomous) occurs in both zebrafish and the frog Xenopus. We describe the segregation of germ cells during embryonic development of solitary and colonial ascidians to provide an evolutionary context to both mechanisms. We conclude with a discussion of the inductive mechanism as exemplified by both the mouse and axolotl model systems. Regardless of mechanism, several general themes can be recognized including the essential role of repression and post­transcriptional regulation of gene expression.