| First Author | Bortvin A | Year | 2004 |
| Journal | BMC Dev Biol | Volume | 4 |
| Pages | 2 | PubMed ID | 15018652 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:93295 | Mgi Id | MGI:3056827 |
| Doi | 10.1186/1471-213X-4-2 | Citation | Bortvin A, et al. (2004) Dppa3 / Pgc7 / stella is a maternal factor and is not required for germ cell specification in mice. BMC Dev Biol 4(1):2 |
| abstractText | BACKGROUND: In mice, germ cells are specified through signalling between layers of cells comprising the primitive embryo. The function of Dppa3 (also known as Pgc7 or stella), a gene expressed in primordial germ cells at the time of their emergence in gastrulating embryos, is unknown, but a recent study has claimed that it plays a central role in germ cell specification. RESULTS: To test Dppa3's role in germ cell development, we disrupted the gene in mouse embryonic stem cells and generated mutant animals. We were able to obtain viable and fertile Dppa3-deficient animals of both sexes. Examination of embryonic and adult germ cells and gonads in Dppa3-deficient animals did not reveal any defects. However, most embryos derived from Dppa3-deficient oocytes failed to develop normally beyond the four-cell stage. CONCLUSION: We found that Dppa3 is an important maternal factor in the cleavage stages of mouse embryogenesis. However, it is not required for germ cell specification. |
