Article
Biology
Yasunari Seita, Keren Cheng, John R. McCarrey, Nomesh Yadu, Ian H. Cheeseman, Alec Bagwell, Corinna N. Ross, Isamar Santana Toro, Li-hua Yen, Sean Vargas, Christopher S. Navara, Brian P. Hermann, Kotaro Sasaki
Summary: This study successfully established a method for culturing mid-gestation mouse iPSCs on a feeder layer, which can further differentiate into cells similar to primordial germ cells (PGCLCs). Furthermore, these cells can acquire an early developmental germ cell phenotype when co-cultured with mouse testicular somatic cells.
Article
Cell Biology
Maeve Ballantyne, Lorna Taylor, Tuanjun Hu, Dominique Meunier, Sunil Nandi, Adrian Sherman, Brenda Flack, John M. Henshall, Rachel J. Hawken, Mike J. McGrew
Summary: The study found that avian PGCs are not sexually restricted for functional gamete formation, as they can form functional gametes in both female and male hosts, providing new insights for the cryopreservation of poultry and other bird species using diploid stage germ cells.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Gul Zaib, Kai Jin, Qisheng Zuo, Maham Habib, Yani Zhang, Bichun Li
Summary: This review emphasizes the significance of chicken primordial germ cells in understanding early-stage development and developing more productive and superior species to meet food and pharmaceutical demands. It provides insights into the importance of chicken primordial germ cells and their applications in transgenesis. The propagation of chicken primordial germ cells into embryonic germ cells that contribute to somatic tissues in vitro offers great potential in the field of developmental biology, genetic modification, and infertility treatment.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Dragos Scarlet, Stephan Handschuh, Ursula Reichart, Giorgia Podico, Robyn E. Ellerbrock, Sebastian Demyda-Peyras, Igor F. Canisso, Ingrid Walter, Christine Aurich
Summary: In horses, gonadal development and sexual differentiation occur asynchronously between male and female fetuses, with the number and distribution of primordial germ cells influenced by fetal sex. By day 45 of pregnancy, equine gonads are clearly differentiated, while migration of primordial germ cells is still ongoing. No signs of genital duct regression are seen until day 60.
Article
Cell Biology
Arend W. Overeem, Yolanda W. Chang, Jeroen Spruit, Celine M. Roelse, Susana M. Chuva De Sousa Lopes
Summary: This study analyzed single-cell transcriptomics data of human fetal gonads to map the molecular interactions during the sex-specific transition from PGCs to gonia, revealing sex-specific signaling pathways. The use of the CellPhoneDB algorithm identified significant ligand-receptor interactions and validated key effectors for the identified signaling pathways in human fetal gonads, providing a foundation for step-by-step reconstitution of human gametogenesis in vitro.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Tuanjun Hu, Lorna Taylor, Adrian Sherman, Christian Keambou Tiambo, Steven J. Kemp, Bruce Whitelaw, Rachel J. Hawken, Appolinaire Djikeng, Michael J. McGrew
Summary: Chickens are important resources for smallholder farmers, and efficient reproductive technologies can safeguard their genetic diversity for climate adaptation and future food production.
Article
Biology
Kyoung Jo, Seth Teague, Bohan Chen, Hina Aftab Khan, Emily Freeburne, Hunter Li, Bolin Li, Ran Ran, Jason R. Spence, Idse Heemskerk
Summary: In this study, micropatterned human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) treated with BMP4 were used as a model to study hPGC specification, and the important role of Nodal signaling in this process was identified. Additionally, a mathematical model was developed to predict fate patterns after signaling perturbations, and it was found that the size of hPSC colonies affects the efficiency of hPGCLC specification.
Review
Cell Biology
Tae-Kyung Hong, Jae-Hoon Song, So-Been Lee, Jeong-Tae Do
Summary: Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) have limitations in rectifying germ cell aplasia such as non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and oocyte maturation failure syndrome. In vitro gametogenesis shows promise in overcoming infertility, with research focusing on deriving male and female germ cells from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). This technique not only helps understand the biological mechanism of gamete development but also offers insights into its application in infertility treatments.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Beh Reh, Xuegeng Wang, Yashi Feng, Ramji K. Bhandari
Summary: Perchlorate, a chemical compound commonly used in military artillery and equipment, has been found in various environmental sources. This study investigated the effects of perchlorate exposure on medaka embryonic development and primordial germ cells (PGCs) migration. The results showed that perchlorate exposure delayed hatching time, reduced heartbeat, inhibited PGCs migration, and increased developmental abnormalities. Vitamin C co-treatment alleviated perchlorate-induced embryo mortality. Furthermore, perchlorate altered the global transcriptional network in PGCs, suggesting its potential effects on developing germ cells and fertility.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Girish Deshpande, Chris Ng, Nicholas Jourjine, Joy Wan Chiew, Juliana Dasilva, Paul Schedl
Summary: In addition to specifying cell fate, the Hedgehog pathway also guides cell migration in various tissues. This study focuses on the role of the Hedgehog pathway in guiding the migration of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in Drosophila embryos. The results show that Hh produced by mesodermal cells guides PGC migration, Hmgcr enhances guidance signals from SGPs, and factors required in Hh receiving cells in other contexts function in PGCs to help direct migration towards SGPs.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
D. E. Goszczynski, M. Navarro, A. A. Mutto, P. J. Ross
Summary: The goal of in vitro gametogenesis is to reproduce the development of sperm and oocytes in the laboratory. Recent research in mice and humans has revealed species-specific differences in germ cell development, with potential applications in optimizing livestock genetics. Embryonic stem cells have been identified as promising candidates for studying germ cells.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
D. E. Goszczynski, M. Navarro, A. A. Mutto, P. J. Ross
Summary: The goal of in vitro gametogenesis is to reproduce the events of sperm and oocyte development in the laboratory. Significant advances have been made in studying species-specific differences in germ cell development, especially in humans, non-human primates, and livestock. The use of in vitro gametes has potential applications in optimizing elite genetics in cattle. This article presents the latest advances in in vitro gametogenesis in livestock science, including new types of pluripotent stem cells, the characterization of the signaling environment in the gonadal niche, and experimental systems for reproducing different stages of germ cell development.
Article
Fisheries
Fang Yang, Kensuke Ichida, Goro Yoshizaki
Summary: When valuable fish die in captivity, it becomes impossible to preserve their genetic resources. However, this study shows that if germ cells can be retrieved from dead fish within 12 hours, it is still possible to create the next generation through transplantation.
Review
Cell Biology
Xiangchuan Wang, Boyi Hu, Zhongying Zhao, Yu Chung Tse
Summary: Researchers have uncovered the complex regulatory mechanisms of cytokinesis and cytoplasmic remodeling in the development of the Caenorhabditis elegans germline, highlighting the role of contractility proteins in faithful cell division and intercellular bridge stability.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Shabnam Fayezi, Parisa Fayyazpour, Zahra Norouzi, Amir Mehdizadeh
Summary: This study summarizes the existing protocols for differentiating mesenchymal stem cells into primordial germ cell-like cells (PGLCs) from different sources and species. Although the protocols are similar, adjustments have been made based on cell type and species.
Article
Clinical Neurology
A. Scott Emmert, Shawn M. Vuong, Crystal Shula, Diana Lindquist, Weihong Yuan, Yueh-Chiang Hu, Francesco T. Mangano, June Goto
JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Gregoriy A. Dokshin, Gregory M. Davis, Ashley D. Sawle, Matthew D. Eldridge, Peter K. Nicholls, Taylin E. Gourley, Katherine A. Romer, Luke W. Molesworth, Hannah R. Tatnell, Ahmet R. Ozturk, Dirk G. de Rooij, Gregory J. Hannon, David C. Page, Craig C. Mello, Michelle A. Carmell
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2020)
Article
Hematology
Laurent Yvernogeau, Anna Klaus, Joris Maas, Ismael Morin-Poulard, Bart Weijts, Stefan Schulte-Merker, Eugene Berezikov, Jan Philipp Junker, Catherine Robin
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pedro Olivares-Chauvet, Jan Philipp Junker
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biology
Maria M. Mikedis, Yuting Fan, Peter K. Nicholls, Tsutomu Endo, Emily K. Jackson, Sarah A. Cobb, Dirk G. de Rooij, David C. Page
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Akihiko Sakashita, So Maezawa, Kazuki Takahashi, Kris G. Alavattam, Masashi Yukawa, Yueh-Chiang Hu, Shohei Kojima, Nicholas F. Parrish, Artem Barski, Mihaela Pavlicev, Satoshi H. Namekawa
NATURE STRUCTURAL & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Roberto Moreno-Ayala, Pedro Olivares-Chauvet, Ronny Schafer, Jan Philipp Junker
Summary: Quantification of embryo-to-embryo variability in vertebrate development was done by studying cell number variation in the zebrafish endoderm. It was found that a sub-population of the endoderm, the dorsal forerunner cells, exhibited significantly more embryo-to-embryo variation and was associated with an increased frequency of left-right laterality defects. These fluctuations had a large stochastic component among fish of the same genetic background, suggesting a strong macroscopic phenotype resulting from stochastic variation in early development.
Article
Developmental Biology
Peter K. Nicholls, David C. Page
Summary: Germ cells commit to gametogenesis after colonizing the gonads, and germ cell tumors may originate from cells that failed to undergo germ cell determination. The diversity of cell types in these tumors reflects the developmental potential of migratory PGCs.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Karoline Holler, Anika Neuschulz, Philipp Drewe-Boss, Janita Mintcheva, Bastiaan Spanjaard, Roberto Arsie, Uwe Ohler, Markus Landthaler, Jan Philipp Junker
Summary: Authors combined spatially-resolved transcriptomics and single-cell RNA labeling to perform a spatio-temporal analysis of the transcriptome during early zebrafish development, revealing insights into this process.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Jennifer F. Hughes, Helen Skaletsky, Peter K. Nicholls, Alexis Drake, Tatyana Pyntikova, Ting-Jan Cho, Daniel W. Bellott, David C. Page
Summary: PRSSLY is the first gene derived from the mammalian ancestral sex chromosomes that was lost from the X and retained on the Y chromosome. It is broadly conserved across eutherian mammals and shows testis-specific expression in this group. In other species, it is expressed in a broader range of somatic tissues. PRSSLY may influence the sex ratio by promoting the survival or propagation of Y-bearing sperm.
Article
Biology
Friedrich Preusser, Anika Neuschulz, Jan Philipp Junker, Nikolaus Rajewsky, Stephan Preibisch
Summary: This study developed an open hardware method for long-term imaging of C. elegans larvae and identified the mechanisms behind their exit from the dauer stage and their behavioral changes in different environments through observation of behavioral motifs and analysis of transcriptomics data.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anika Neuschulz, Olga Bakina, Victor Badillo-Lisakowski, Pedro Olivares-Chauvet, Thomas Conrad, Michael Gotthardt, Helmut Kettenmann, Jan Philipp Junker
Summary: Tissue dissociation during single-cell sample preparation can induce transcriptional changes due to cellular stress response. We developed a method to measure this response by labeling dissociation-induced transcripts for sequencing identification. Our study revealed general and cell-type-specific dissociation response programs in zebrafish larvae, and sample-to-sample variation in mouse cardiomyocyte dissociation response despite controlled conditions. Additionally, we demonstrated the artificial activation of microglia in the mouse hippocampus upon dissociation. Our approach enables experimental optimization and computational removal of transcriptional perturbation response.
MOLECULAR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Chao Zheng Li, Hiromi Ogawa, Soon Seng Ng, Xindi Chen, Eriko Kishimoto, Kokoro Sakabe, Aiko Fukami, Yueh-Chiang Hu, Christopher N. Mayhew, Jennifer Hellmann, Alexander Miethke, Nahrin L. Tasnova, Samuel J. Blackford, Zu Ming Tang, Adam M. Syanda, Liang Ma, Fang Xiao, Melissa Sambrotta, Oliver Tavabie, Filipa Soares, Oliver Baker, Davide Danovi, Hisamitsu Hayashi, Richard J. Thompson, S. Tamir Rashid, Akihiro Asai
Summary: The study established a disease model using patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and CRISPR genome-editing, which can recapitulate the phenotypes of patients with TJP2 deficiency.
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
J. P. Junker
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel Schwabe, Sara Formichetti, Jan Philipp Junker, Martin Falcke, Nikolaus Rajewsky
MOLECULAR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
(2020)