A critical role for Xdazl, a germ plasm-localized RNA, in the differentiation of primordial germ cells in Xenopus

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2000 papers

Abstract

Xdazl is an RNA component of Xenopus germ plasm and encodes an RNA-binding protein that can act as a functional homologue of Drosophila boule. boule is required for entry into meiotic cell division during fly spermatogenesis. Both Xdazl and boule are related to the human DAZ and DAZL, and murine Dazl genes, which are also involved in gamete differentiation. As suggested from its germ plasm localization, we show here that Xdazl is critically involved in PGC development in Xenopus. Xdazl protein is expressed in the cytoplasm, specifically in the germ plasm, from blastula to early tailbud stages. Specific depletion of maternal Xdazl RNA results in tadpoles lacking, or severely deficient in, primordial germ cells (PGCs). In the absence of Xdazl, PGCs do not successfully migrate from the ventral to the dorsal endoderm and do not reach the dorsal mesentery. Germ plasm aggregation and intracellular movements are normal indicating that the defect occurs after PGC formation. We propose that Xdazl is required for early PGC differentiation and is indirectly necessary for the migration of PGCs through the endoderm. As an RNA-binding protein, Xdazl may regulate translation or expression of factors that mediate migration of PGCs.

Related Papers

• → The Role of Maternal VegT in Establishing the Primary Germ Layers in Xenopus Embryos(1998)469 cited
• → Expression of Axolotl DAZL RNA, a Marker of Germ Plasm: Widespread Maternal RNA and Onset of Expression in Germ Cells Approaching the Gonad(2001)96 cited
• → Animal pole determinants define oral–aboral axis polarity and endodermal cell-fate in hydrozoan jellyfish Podocoryne carnea(2006)47 cited
• → Investigations of the Germ-plasm in Relation to Nuclear Transplantation(1961)24 cited
• An extensive increase of junctional communication capacity in endoderm development of the Xenopus embryo.(1989)