A functional genomic screen in planarians identifies novel regulators of germ cell development

Yuying Wang, Joel M. Stary, James E. Wilhelm, Phillip A. Newmark

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Germ cells serve as intriguing examples of differentiated cells that retain the capacity to generate all cell types of an organism. Here we used functional genomic approaches in planarians to identify genes required for proper germ cell development. We conducted microarray analyses and in situ hybridization to discover and validate germ cell-enriched transcripts, and then used RNAi to screen for genes required for discrete stages of germ cell development. The majority of genes we identified encode conserved RNA-binding proteins, several of which have not been implicated previously in germ cell development. We also show that a germ cell-specific subunit of the conserved transcription factor CCAAT-binding protein/nuclear factor-Y is required for maintaining spermatogonial stem cells. Our results demonstrate that conserved transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms regulate germ cell development in planarians. These findings suggest that studies of planarians will inform our understanding of germ cell biology in higher organisms.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)2081-2092
    Number of pages12
    JournalGenes and Development
    Volume24
    Issue number18
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Sep 15 2010

    Keywords

    • Nanos
    • Nuclear factor Y
    • Post-transcriptional regulation
    • RNAi screen
    • Schmidtea mediterranea
    • Spermatogenesis

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Genetics
    • Developmental Biology

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