Genetics of Germ Cell and Stem Cell Development

描述（由申请人提供）：原始生殖细胞（PGCs）是 成年动物配子的胚胎前体。它们会导致 胚胎癌（EC）细胞是胚胎发育过程中的多能干细胞。 睾丸肿瘤的形成。PGCs也可以产生多能干细胞， 当在存在三种细胞的情况下培养时， 多肽生长因子体外将PGC转化为干细胞 发生在几天内。然而，基因表达的改变， 在此期间发生在PGC中的情况未知。这项建议旨在 测试使用抑制消减杂交的可行性， 确定从PGC到PGC过渡期间发生的分子变化 一种使用小鼠作为模型系统的多能干细胞。识别 在这个过程中发生的分子变化将产生新的信息， 关于控制i）配子发生期间PGC分化的机制， ii）参与PGC转化的过程和iii）发育 哺乳动物的潜能这些过程的知识将有助于我们 了解控制哺乳动物生育力的因素。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant):Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the embryonic precursors of the gametes of the adult animal. They can give rise to pluripotent stem cells termed embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells during the formation of testicular tumors. PGCs can also give rise to pluripotent stem cells termed embryonal germ (EG) cells when cultured in the presence of three polypeptide growth factors. The conversion of a PGC to a stem cell in vitro occurs in a matter of days. However, the alterations in gene expression that occur in PGCs during this period are unknown. This proposal is designed to test the feasibility of using suppression subtractive hybridization to identify the molecular changes that occur during the transition from a PGC to a pluripotent stem cell using mice as a model system. Identifying the molecular changes that occur during this process will generate new information about the mechanisms controlling i) PGC differentiation during gametogenesis, ii) the processes involved in PGC transformation and iii) developmental potency in mammals. The knowledge of these processes will aid in our understanding of the factors controlling fertility in mammals.