biostudies-literatureRuthig VANICHD NIH HHSNCI NIH HHSNational Institutes of HealthDCINIGMS NIH HHS861-874https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8324984biostudies-literatureUnknown104(4)In vertebrates, the RNA-binding protein (RBP) dead end 1 (DND1) is essential for primordial germ cell (PGC) survival and maintenance of cell identity. In multiple species, Dnd1 loss or mutation leads to severe PGC loss soon after specification or, in some species, germ cell transformation to somatic lineages. Our investigations into the role of DND1 in PGC specification and differentiation have been limited by the absence of an available antibody. To address this problem, we used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to establish a transgenic mouse line carrying a DND1GFP fusion allele. We present imaging analysis of DND1GFP expression showing that DND1GFP expression is heterogeneous among male germ cells (MGCs) and female germ cells (FGCs). DND1GFP was detected in MGCs throughout fetal life but lost fBiology of reproductionA transgenic DND1GFP fusion allele reports in vivo expression and RNA-binding targets in undifferentiated mouse germ cells†.PMC8324984F32 GM129956R01 HD103064R37 HD039963P30 CA014236Ruthig VAHardy JYokonishi TFriedersdorf MBGarness JACapel BKeene JDBatchvarova SfalseA transgenic DND1GFP fusion allele reports in vivo expression and RNA-binding targets in undifferentiated mouse germ cells†.In vertebrates, the RNA-binding protein (RBP) dead end 1 (DND1) is essential for primordial germ cell (PGC) survival and maintenance of cell identity. In multiple species, Dnd1 loss or mutation leads to severe PGC loss soon after specification or, in some species, germ cell transformation to somatic lineages. Our investigations into the role of DND1 in PGC specification and differentiation have been limited by the absence of an available antibody. To address this problem, we used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to establish a transgenic mouse line carrying a DND1GFP fusion allele. We present imaging analysis of DND1GFP expression showing that DND1GFP expression is heterogeneous among male germ cells (MGCs) and female germ cells (FGCs). DND1GFP was detected in MGCs throughout fetal life but lost f2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Apr2026-07-11T03:19:57.454Z2022-02-11T14:11:28.791ZS-EPMC83249843339403410.1093/biolre/ioaa233