Abstract
BackgroundNANOG is a key player in pluripotency and its expression is restricted to pluripotent cells of the inner cell mass, the epiblast and to primordial germ cells. Spermatogenesis is closely associated with pluripotency, because through this process highly specialized sperm cells are produced that contribute to the formation of totipotent zygotes. Nevertheless, it is unknown if NANOG plays a role in this process.Methodology/Principal FindingsIn the current study, NANOG expression was examined in testes of various mammals, including mouse and human. Nanog mRNA and NANOG protein were detected by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting. Furthermore, eGFP expression was detected in the testis of a transgenic Nanog eGFP-reporter mouse. Surprisingly, although NANOG expression has previously been associated with undifferentiated cells with stem cell potential, expression in the testis was observed in pachytene spermatocytes and in the first steps of haploid germ cell maturation (spermiogenesis). Weak expression in type A spermatogonia was also observed.ConclusionsThe findings of the current study strongly suggest a conserved role for NANOG in meiotic and post-meiotic stages of male germ cell development.
Highlights
NANOG, named after a mythical Celtic land of the ever young, is a homeobox transcription factor and a key player in pluripotency; i.e. the ability of a cell to differentiate into any fetal or adult cell type [1,2]
We detected the presence of Nanog mRNA in mouse testes of two different strains by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (Fig. 1A)
Transcription from the locus of Nanog in mouse testes was further confirmed by the detection of testicular eGFP transcripts in transgenic Nanog eGFP-reporter mice (TNG) [3] (Fig. 1B)
Summary
NANOG, named after a mythical Celtic land of the ever young, is a homeobox transcription factor and a key player in pluripotency; i.e. the ability of a cell to differentiate into any fetal or adult cell type [1,2]. In vivo expression of NANOG is restricted to cells of the inner cell mass (ICM), the pluripotent epiblast, and primordial germ cells (PGCs), all of which are sources for pluripotent cell lines [1,2,5]. NANOG is a key player in pluripotency and its expression is restricted to pluripotent cells of the inner cell mass, the epiblast and to primordial germ cells. Spermatogenesis is closely associated with pluripotency, because through this process highly specialized sperm cells are produced that contribute to the formation of totipotent zygotes. It is unknown if NANOG plays a role in this process
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