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PMID: 15486564 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Oct4 is required for primordial germ cell survival.

EMBO reports ·Vol. 5 ·No. 11 ·2004-11-00 ·Pages 1078-83

Kehler J, Tolkunova E, Koschorz B, Pesce M, Gentile L, Boiani M, Lomelí H, Nagy A, McLaughlin KJ, Schöler HR, Tomilin A

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that Oct4 has an essential role in maintaining pluripotency of cells of the inner cell mass (ICM) and embryonic stem cells. However, Oct4 null homozygous embryos die around the time of implantation, thus precluding further analysis of gene function during development. We have used the conditional Cre/loxP gene targeting strategy to assess Oct4 function in primordial germ cells (PGCs). Loss of Oct4 function leads to apoptosis of PGCs rather than to differentiation into a trophectodermal lineage, as has been described for Oct4-deficient ICM cells. These new results suggest a previously unknown function of Oct4 in maintaining viability of mammalian germline.

MeSH Terms
Alleles Animals Apoptosis Cell Differentiation Cell Lineage Cell Survival DNA-Binding Proteins/physiology Embryo, Mammalian/cytology Extracellular Matrix/metabolism Female Gene Expression Regulation Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Genetic Vectors Germ Cells/cytology Homozygote In Situ Nick-End Labeling Male Mice Mice, Transgenic Models, Genetic Octamer Transcription Factor-3 Phenotype Signal Transduction Stem Cells/cytology Time Factors Transcription Factors/physiology
Chemicals
DNA-Binding Proteins Octamer Transcription Factor-3 Pou5f1 protein, mouse Transcription Factors
Authors & Affiliations
11 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Kehler James
Germline Development, Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, 382 W. Street Road, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania 19348, USA.
Tolkunova Elena
Koschorz Birgit
Pesce Maurizio
Gentile Luca
Boiani Michele
Lomelí Hilda
Nagy Andras
McLaughlin K John
Schöler Hans R
Tomilin Alexey
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Article Info
Journal
EMBO reports
Abbr.
EMBO Rep
ISSN
1469-221X
DOI
10.1038/sj.embor.7400279
Published
2004-11-00
Pages
1078-83
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
100963049
PMCID
PMC1299174
Subset
IM
Grants
NICHD NIH HHS · R01-HD-44066-01A1 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · T32 GM007170 · United States
NICHD NIH HHS · R01 HD044066 · United States
NICHD NIH HHS · R01 HD042011 · United States
NICHD NIH HHS · R01HD42011-01 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · T32-GM07170 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1038/sj.embor.7400279 PMC Full Text View journal details
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