Germ cells play a unique role in gamete production, heredity and evolution. Therefore, to
understand the mechanisms that specify germ cells is a central challenge in developmental …

“Germ granules” are cytoplasmic, nonmembrane-bound organelles unique to germline.
Germ granules share components with the P bodies and stress granules of somatic cells, but …

Summary In Drosophila gonads, Piwi proteins and associated piRNAs collaborate with
additional factors to form a small RNA-based immune system that silences mobile elements …

Restricted expression of a mouse Vasa homolog gene (Mvh) expression is first detected in
primordial germ cells (PGCs) after colonization of the genital ridges. Subsequently, Mvh is …

DEAD-box RNA helicases, which regulate various processes involving RNA, have two RecA-
like domains as a catalytic core to alter higher-order RNA structures. We determined the 2.2 …

To demonstrate the cellular and subcellular localization of mouse vasa homologue protein
during germ cell development, specific antibody was raised against the full-length MVH …

The translation initiation step in eukaryotes is highly regulated and rate-limiting. During this
process, the 40S ribosomal subunit is usually recruited to the 5′ terminus of the mRNA. It …

Work in different organisms revealed that the vasa gene product is essential for germline
specification. Here, we describe the asymmetric segregation of zebrafish vasa RNA, which …

The vasa gene, essential for germ-cell development, was originally identified in Drosophila,
and has since been found in other invertebrates and vertebrates. Analysis of these vasa …

Germ cells are distinct from somatic cells in their immortality, totipotency, and ability to
undergo meiosis. Candidates for components that guide the unique germline program are …