Human DAZL, DAZ and BOULE genes modulate primordial germ-cell and haploid gamete formation.

ABSTRACT: The leading cause of infertility in men and women is quantitative and qualitative defects in human germ-cell (oocyte and sperm) development. Yet, it has not been possible to examine the unique developmental genetics of human germ-cell formation and differentiation owing to inaccessibility of germ cells during fetal development. Although several studies have shown that germ cells can be differentiated from mouse and human embryonic stem cells, human germ cells differentiated in these studies generally did not develop beyond the earliest stages. Here we used a germ-cell reporter to quantify and isolate primordial germ cells derived from both male and female human embryonic stem cells. By silencing and overexpressing genes that encode germ-cell-specific cytoplasmic RNA-binding proteins (not t

SUBMITTER: Kee K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3133736 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature