All somatic mammalian cells carry two copies of chromosomes (diploidy), whereas organisms with a single copy of their genome such as yeast provide a basis for recessive genetics. Here we report the generation of haploid mouse ES cell lines from parthenogenetic embryos. These cells carry 20 chromosomes, express stem cell markers, and develop into all germ-layers in vitro and in vivo. We also developed a reversible mutagenesis protocol that allows saturated genetic recessive screens and results in homozygous alleles. This system allowed us to generate the first knock-out cell line for the microRNA processing enzyme Drosha. In a forward genetic screen, we identified Gpr107 as a molecule essential for killing by ricin, a toxin being used as bioweapon. Our results open the possibility to combine the power of a haploid genome with pluripotency of embryonic stem cells to uncover fundamental biological processes in defined cell types at a genomic scale.
Background: Cell surface recognition of the AC133 epitope on CD133 marks many stem cell and cancer stem cell types. Results: A large scale RNA interference screen identifies genes involved in N-glycosylation that regulate cell surface AC133 recognition. Conclusion: CD133 N-glycosylation and its processing contribute to cell surface AC133 recognition. Significance: Glycobiological differences between primitive and differentiated cells may be responsible for regulating cell surface AC133.
vasa (vas)-related genes are members of the DEAD-box protein family and are expressed in the germ cells of many Metazoa. We cloned vasa-related genes (PpVLG, CpVLG) and other DEAD-box family related genes (PpDRH1, PpDRH2, CpDRH, AtDRHr) from the colonial parasitic rhizocephalan barnacle Polyascus polygenea, the non-colonial Clistosaccus paguri (Crustacea: Cirripedia: Rhizocephala), and the parasitic isopodan Athelgis takanoshimensis (Crustacea: Isopoda). The colonial Polyascus polygenea, a parasite of the coastal crabs Hemigrapsus sanguineus and Hemigrapsus longitarsis was used as a model object for further detailed investigations. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that PpVLG and CpVLG are closely related to vasa-like genes of other Arthropoda. The rest of the studied genes form their own separate branch on the phylogenetic tree and have a common ancestry with the p68 and PL10 subfamilies. We suppose this group may be a new subfamily of the DEAD-box RNA helicases that is specific for parasitic Crustacea. We found PpVLG and PpDRH1 expression products in stem cells from stolons and buds of internae, during asexual reproduction of colonial P. polygenea, and in germ cells from sexually reproducing externae, including male spermatogenic cells and female oogenic cells.
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