These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed


  • Title: Germ cell-less encodes a cell type-specific nuclear pore-associated protein and functions early in the germ-cell specification pathway of Drosophila.
    Author: Jongens TA, Ackerman LD, Swedlow JR, Jan LY, Jan YN.
    Journal: Genes Dev; 1994 Sep 15; 8(18):2123-36. PubMed ID: 7958883.
    Abstract:
    The maternally supplied plasm at the posterior pole of a Drosophila embryo contains determinants that specify both the germ-cell precursors (pole cells) and the posterior axis. One pole plasma component, the product of the germ cell-less gene, has been found to be required for specification of pole cells, but not posterior somatic cells. Mothers with reduced levels of gcl give rise to progeny that lack pole cells, but are otherwise normal. Mothers overexpressing gcl, on the other hand, produce progeny exhibiting a transient increase of pole cells. Ectopic localization of gcl to the anterior pole of the embryo causes nuclei at that location to adopt characteristics of pole cell nuclei, with concurrent loss of somatic cells. We also present evidence indicating that the gcl protein associates specifically with the nuclear pores of the pole cell nuclei. This localization suggests a novel mechanism in the specification of cell fate for the germ line.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]