Abstract
The regulation of mRNA translation, both globally and at the level of individual transcripts, plays a central role in the development and function of germ cells across species. Genetic studies using flies, worms, zebrafish and mice have highlighted the importance of specific RNA binding proteins in driving various aspects of germ cell formation and function. Many of these mRNA binding proteins, including Pumilio, Nanos, Vasa and Dazl have been conserved through evolution, specifically mark germ cells, and carry out similar functions across species. These proteins typically influence mRNA translation by binding to specific elements within the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of target messages. Emerging evidence indicates that the global regulation of mRNA translation also plays an important role in germ cell development. For example, ribosome biogenesis is often regulated in a stage specific manner during gametogenesis. Moreover, oocytes need to produce and store a sufficient number of ribosomes to support the development of the early embryo until the initiation of zygotic transcription. Accumulating evidence indicates that disruption of mRNA translation regulatory mechanisms likely contributes to infertility and reproductive aging in humans. These findings highlight the importance of gaining further insights into the mechanisms that control mRNA translation within germ cells. Future work in this area will likely have important impacts beyond germ cell biology.
Highlights
Germ cells are essential for the propagation of multicellular species and share many features that have long fascinated biologists
This study found that RNA localization tended to trend with translational status and that accumulation of mRNAs to P granules depended on the activity of translational repressors
Previously considered as a house-keeping function, emerging evidence is showing that protein synthesis can be heterogeneous across different cell-types and developmental stages [reviewed in Buszczak et al (2014)]. mRNA translation depends on ribosomes, which are composed of about 80 different ribosomal proteins (RPs) and 4 rRNAs
Summary
Germ cells are essential for the propagation of multicellular species and share many features that have long fascinated biologists. The first will focus on how RNA binding proteins influence the translation of key regulators of germ cell formation and female germ cell differentiation. Genetic studies in a variety of model systems (Figure 1) have led the way in establishing our current understanding of how RNA binding proteins and the regulated translation of individual mRNAs drive various aspects of germ cell development and early embryogenesis. Many of these proteins, including Nanos, Pumilio, Vasa, and Dazl, have long served as useful markers of germ cell identity across different species (Lesch and Page, 2012) (Table 1). We will touch upon commonalities in the regulation of translation between these different species
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