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Transcriptional silencing and translational control: key features of early germline development
Author(s) -
Leatherman Judith L.,
Jongens Thomas A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.10247
Subject(s) - germline , biology , totipotent , gene silencing , lineage (genetic) , soma , model organism , caenorhabditis elegans , organism , microbiology and biotechnology , somatic cell , genetics , germ cell , gene , cellular differentiation , neuroscience
The germ lineage has been studied for a long time because of its crucial role in the propagation and survival of a species. While this lineage, in contrast to the soma, is clearly unique in its totipotent ability to produce a new organism, it has now been found also to have specific features at the cellular level. One feature, a period of transcriptional quiescence in the early germ cell precursors, has been observed in both Drosophila and C. elegans , where it is essential for the formation and the survival of the germline. In addition, there are numerous instances where these early germ cells are reliant on translational regulation, especially in Drosophila . The genes that are important for these two functions, the mechanisms of their action, and studies in vertebrate organisms that reveal similarities as well as some potential differences in early germ cell development are discussed. BioEssays 25:326–335, 2003. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.