Opposing effects of retinoic acid and FGF9 onNanos2expression and meiotic entry of mouse germ cells

• DOI: 10.1242/jcs.057968
• Publication Date: 2010-02-17T04:14:09Z
• Authors: Florencia Barrios; Doria Filipponi; Manuela Pellegrini; Maria Paola Paron...; Sara Di Siena; Raffaele Geremia; Pellegrino Rossi; Massimo De Felici; Emmanuele A. Jannini; Susanna Dolci
• Keywords: Gonocyte; Germ line development; FGF9

In the mouse, three genes that are homologous to Drosophila Nanos (Nos) gene have been identified. Deletion of one these genes, Nanos2, results in male sterility, owing loss germ cells during fetal life. Before apoptosis, Nanos2-null gonocytes enter meiosis, suggesting Nanos2 functions as a meiotic repressor. Here, we show is continuously expressed from postnatal spermatogonial stem cells. We observed promeiotic factor AtRA, an analog retinoic acid (RA), downregulates NANOS2 levels, both and gonocytes, while promoting meiosis. Interestingly, FGF9, growth crucial for sex differentiation survival upregulates levels female primordial (PGCs) premeiotic spermatogonia. This effect was paralleled by impairment entry, FGF9 acts inhibitor meiosis through upregulation Nanos2. found interacts with PUM2, two proteins colocalize ribonucleoparticle polysomal fractions on sucrose gradients, supporting notion they bind RNA. Finally, recombinant binds mRNAs, Gata2 Taf7l, which involved germ-cell differentiation.