Project description:The Nanos family of RNA-binding proteins has been implicated in the specification of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in a wide range of metazoans, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. We have profiled the transcriptome of PGCs lacking the nanos homologues nos-1 and nos-2 in C. elegans using cell sorting and RNA-seq. nos-1nos-2 PGCs fail to silence hundreds of genes normally expressed in oocytes and somatic cells, a phenotype reminiscent of PGCs lacking the repressive PRC2 complex. The nos-1nos-2 phenotype depends on LIN-15B, a broadly expressed synMuvB class transcription factor known to antagonize PRC2 activity in somatic cells. LIN-15B is maternally-inherited by all embryonic cells and is down-regulated specifically in PGCs in a nos-1nos-2-dependent manner. Consistent with LIN-15B being a critical target of Nanos regulation, inactivation of maternal LIN-15B restores fertility to nos-1nos-2 mutants. These studies demonstrate a central role for Nanos in reprogramming the transcriptome of primordial germ cells away from an oocyte/somatic fate by down-regulating an antagonist of PRC2 activity.
Project description:The Nanos family of RNA-binding proteins has been implicated in the specification of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in a wide range of metazoans, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. We have profiled the transcriptome of PGCs lacking the nanos homologues nos-1 and nos-2 in C. elegans using cell sorting and RNA-seq. nos-1nos-2 PGCs fail to silence hundreds of genes normally expressed in oocytes and somatic cells, a phenotype reminiscent of PGCs lacking the repressive PRC2 complex. The nos-1nos-2 phenotype depends on LIN-15B, a broadly expressed synMuvB class transcription factor known to antagonize PRC2 activity in somatic cells. LIN-15B is maternally-inherited by all embryonic cells and is down-regulated specifically in PGCs in a nos-1nos-2-dependent manner. Consistent with LIN-15B being a critical target of Nanos regulation, inactivation of maternal LIN-15B restores fertility to nos-1nos-2 mutants. These studies demonstrate a central role for Nanos in reprogramming the transcriptome of primordial germ cells away from an oocyte/somatic fate by down-regulating an antagonist of PRC2 activity.
Project description:To understand dynamics of embryonic transcriptome in a high resolution, whole bodies of embryos were collected at 12 time points during the embryogenesis and were subjected to microanalyses. These data were originally obtained aiming to compare to our other microarray data [GSE83460] of PGCs (primordial germ cells; pole cells).
Project description:DEAD-box RNA helicase Vasa is required for gonad development and fertility in multiple animals. In Drosophila, Vasa performs essential functions in oogenesis, including the maintenance of germline stem cells (GSCs), piRNA silencing of mobile elements, translation regulation, and primordial germ cell specification. Despite its evident significance, the mechanistic basis of Vasa action and its precise role in spermatogenesis become incomprehensible. Several papers affirm the fertility of males carrying vasa mutations. However, it is also shown that Vasa is essential for piRNA-mediated repression of Stellate genes needed for the maintenance of male fertility.Here we found that loss-of-function vasa mutations led to a rapid decline in GSC maintenance in the testes, a severe loss of total germ cell content, and a strong decrease in male fertility over time. With the aid of analysis of small RNA libraries, we revealed that collapse of piRNA biogenesis in the absence of vasa expression. Despite that, we did not reveal increasing cell death events in the early germ cells of vasa mutant testes. The introduction of the transgene rhino copy, encoding a nuclear component of the piRNA pathway, in vasa mutant background allowed us to rescue premeiotic stages of spermatogenesis, including GSC maintenance and the development of spermatogonia and spermatocytes. However, the progression of spermatocytes through meiosis and the fertility of the rhino transgene-rescued males were disrupted by strong Stellate gene derepression owing to the absence of corresponding piRNAs. We have shown that Vasa functions in spermatogenesis are essential at two separate developmental stages: in GSCs for their maintenance and in spermatocytes for the repression of Stellate genes.
Project description:DEAD-box RNA helicase Vasa is required for gonad development and fertility in multiple animals. In Drosophila, Vasa performs essential functions in oogenesis, including the maintenance of germline stem cells (GSCs), piRNA silencing of mobile elements, translation regulation, and primordial germ cell specification. Despite its evident significance, the mechanistic basis of Vasa action and its precise role in spermatogenesis become incomprehensible. Several papers affirm the fertility of males carrying vasa mutations. However, it is also shown that Vasa is essential for piRNA-mediated repression of Stellate genes needed for the maintenance of male fertility.Here we found that loss-of-function vasa mutations led to a rapid decline in GSC maintenance in the testes, a severe loss of total germ cell content, and a strong decrease in male fertility over time. With the aid of analysis of small RNA libraries, we revealed that collapse of piRNA biogenesis in the absence of vasa expression. Despite that, we did not reveal increasing cell death events in the early germ cells of vasa mutant testes. The introduction of the transgene rhino copy, encoding a nuclear component of the piRNA pathway, in vasa mutant background allowed us to rescue premeiotic stages of spermatogenesis, including GSC maintenance and the development of spermatogonia and spermatocytes. However, the progression of spermatocytes through meiosis and the fertility of the rhino transgene-rescued males were disrupted by strong Stellate gene derepression owing to the absence of corresponding piRNAs. We have shown that Vasa functions in spermatogenesis are essential at two separate developmental stages: in GSCs for their maintenance and in spermatocytes for the repression of Stellate genes.
Project description:A method for the long-term maintenance of germ-free flies was established using aseptic isolators. The methodology effectively and reliably yields large numbers of germ-free flies in homogeneous cultures. Germ-free flies exhibited increased lifespan (only female flies) and decreased egg production, markedly reduced fat storage, less midday sleep, and enhanced aggressiveness (male flies). Fructilactobacillus—a species of fly intestinal microbes—was re-colonized in germ-free flies, and these gnotobiotic flies were successfully maintained for numerous generations. The proteome of those flies were analyzed.