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Primordial germ cell specification: a context-dependent cellular differentiation event [corrected].


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Authors

Günesdogan, Ufuk 
Magnúsdóttir, Erna 
Surani, M Azim 

Abstract

During embryonic development, the foundation of the germline is laid by the specification of primordial germ cells (PGCs) from the postimplantation epiblast via bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and WNT signalling. While the majority of epiblast cells undergo differentiation towards somatic cell lineages, PGCs initiate a unique cellular programme driven by the cooperation of the transcription factors BLIMP1, PRDM14 and AP2γ. These factors synergistically suppress the ongoing somatic differentiation and drive the re-expression of pluripotency and germ cell-specific genes accompanied by global epigenetic changes. However, an unresolved question is how postimplantation epiblast cells acquire the developmental competence for the PGC fate downstream of BMP/WNT signalling. One emerging concept is that transcriptional enhancers might play a central role in the establishment of developmental competence and the execution of cell fate determination. Here, we discuss recent advances on the specification and reprogramming of PGCs thereby highlighting the concept of enhancer function.

Description

Keywords

developmental competence, enhancer, epigenetic reprogramming, primordial germ cells, specification, Animals, Cell Differentiation, Embryonic Development, Epigenesis, Genetic, Gene Regulatory Networks, Germ Layers, Mice, Models, Biological, Signal Transduction

Journal Title

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0962-8436
1471-2970

Volume Title

369

Publisher

The Royal Society
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (092096/Z/10/Z)
U.G. is supported by a Marie Curie Intra-European fellowship. E.M. is supported by the Icelandic Research Fund. M.A.S. is supported by the Wellcome Trust (WT096738).