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The multiple hats of Vasa: Its functions in the germline and in cell cycle progression
Author(s) -
Yajima Mamiko,
Wessel Gary M.
Publication year - 2011
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/mrd.21363
Subject(s) - biology , germline , somatic cell , mitosis , microbiology and biotechnology , germ cell , rna helicase a , genetics , cell cycle , cell , helicase , rna , gene
Vasa, an ATP‐dependent RNA helicase, is broadly conserved among various organisms from cnidarians to mammals. It has a rich history of utility as a germline marker, and is believed to function as a positive translational regulator in the determination and maintenance of germline cells. Studies in non‐model organisms, however, revealed that Vasa is also present in somatic cells of many tissues. In many cases these cells are multipotent, are non‐germline associated, and give rise to a variety of different tissue types. Recent work now also demonstrates that Vasa functions in the regulation of the cell cycle. Here, we discuss this newly described function of Vasa in mitotic and meiotic cell cycles, and we address the conundrum created within these observations, that is, that most cells are mitotically independent of Vasa, yet when Vasa is present in a cell, it appears to be essential for cell cycle progression. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 78:861–867, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.