Tdrd1/Mtr-1, a tudor-related gene, is essential for male germ-cell differentiation and nuage/germinal granule formation in mice.

ABSTRACT: Embryonic patterning and germ-cell specification in mice are regulative and depend on zygotic gene activities. However, there are mouse homologues of Drosophila maternal effect genes, including vasa and tudor, that function in posterior and germ-cell determination. We report here that a targeted mutation in Tudor domain containing 1/mouse tudor repeat 1 (Tdrd1/Mtr-1), a tudor-related gene in mice, leads to male sterility because of postnatal spermatogenic defects. TDRD1/MTR-1 predominantly localizes to nuage/germinal granules, an evolutionarily conserved structure in the germ line, and its intracellular localization is downstream of mouse vasa homologue/DEAD box polypeptide 4 (Mvh/Ddx4), similar to Drosophila vasa-tudor. Tdrd1/Mtr-1 mutants lack, and Mvh/Ddx4 mutants show, strong reduction

SUBMITTER: Chuma S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1635099 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature