The human VASA gene is specifically expressed in the germ cell lineage

Abstract

To understand the origins and function of the human germ cell lineage and to identify germ cell-specific markers we have isolated a human ortholog of the Drosophila gene vasa. The gene was mapped to human chromosome 5q (near the centromere) by radiation hybrid mapping. We show by Northern analysis of fetal and adult tissues that expression of the human VASA gene is restricted to the ovary and testis and is undetectable in somatic tissues. We generated polyclonal antibodies that bind to the VASA protein in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue and characterized VASA protein expression in human germ cells at various stages of development. The VASA protein is cytoplasmic and expressed in migratory primordial germ cells in the region of the gonadal ridge. VASA protein is present in fetal and adult gonadal germ cells in both males and females and is most abundant in spermatocytes and mature oocytes. The gene we have isolated is thus a highly specific marker of germ cells and should be useful for studies of human germ cell determination and function.gametogenesis ͉ DEAD box RNA helicase

Neonatal Gonocyte Differentiation in Mongolian GerbilMeriones unguiculatusInvolves Asynchronous Maturation of Seminiferous Cords and Rapid Formation of Transitional Cell Stage

“…It is important to mention the extreme difficulty in distinguishing, via paraffin sections or ultrastructural analysis, the prospermatogonia from undifferentiated Sertoli cells. Thus, the accurate identification of both cell types was enabled by the association of high resolution light microscopy and immunocytochemical analyses for VASA-protein, a marker of germ cells (Castrillon et al, 2000).…”

Generation of a germ cell‐specific mouse transgenic Cre line, Vasa‐Cre

“…Vasa expression is confined to the germ cell lineage in species including Drosophila, zebrafish, mouse, and humans (Castrillon et al, 2000;Lasko and Ashburner, 1988 (Tanaka et al, 2000). We reasoned that a Vasa-Cre line could prove useful for studies of germ cell function following gonadal colonization, including many aspects of spermatogenesis and oogenesis, such as the assembly, activation, and growth of primordial follicles.…”

“…placenta and liver, among others) and such widespread expression may complicate interpretation of experiments where germ cellspecific gene inactivation is desired or required (if e.g. the locus is essential) (Lomeli et al, 2000).Vasa expression is confined to the germ cell lineage in species including Drosophila, zebrafish, mouse, and humans (Castrillon et al, 2000;Lasko and Ashburner, 1988 (Tanaka et al, 2000). We reasoned that a Vasa-Cre line could prove useful for studies of germ cell function following gonadal colonization, including many aspects of spermatogenesis and oogenesis, such as the assembly, activation, and growth of primordial follicles.…”

“…Vasa expression is confined to the germ cell lineage in species including Drosophila, zebrafish, mouse, and humans (Castrillon et al, 2000;Lasko and Ashburner, 1988). In the mouse, Vasa (a.k.a.…”

Amniotic fluid stem cell-based models to study the effects of gene mutations and toxicants on male germ cell formation

“…The RNA binding protein VASA is specifically expressed in the germ cell lineage and is essential for germ cell formation. 26 An elegant approach allowing flow cytometric isolation of germ cells after bone morphogenetic protein-induced differentiation is prior transfection of the pluripotent stem cells with a reporter system carrying GFP under the VASA promoter. Since spontaneous induction of meiosis is low, overexpression of genes of the DAZ gene family can be performed to induce meiosis for haploid spermatids 5,27 ( Figure 1).…”