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CREM: A master‐switch regulating the balance between differentiation and apoptosis in male germ cells
Author(s) -
SassoneCorsi Paolo
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2795(200006)56:2+<228::aid-mrd2>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - biology , activator (genetics) , germ cell , transcription factor , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , phenotype , homologous recombination , apoptosis , homologous chromosome , genetics
Cyclic AMP‐responsive element modulator (CREM) is a transcription factor highly expressed in the post‐meiotic germ cells of the testis. Its pivotal role is to regulate the expression of several germ cell–specific genes, a crucial function as demonstrated by the severe phenotype of mice whose CREM gene was mutated by homologous recombination. CREM‐deficient male animals are sterile and display a ten‐fold increase in the apoptosis of germ cells. Recent results have shown that CREM needs a tissue‐specific co‐activator, ACT (activator of CREM in testis) to elicit its regulatory function in testis. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 56:228–229, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.