Project description:Transgenic StellaGFP ESCs were used to derive primordial germ cells during embryoid body (EB) differentiation, and microarry analysis used to compared FACS sorted Stella-positive cells of day 7 Ebs with the parental ESCs and Stella-negative cells of day 7 Ebs. Keywords: in vitro, primordial germ cells, embryonic stem cells, stella
Project description:Primordial germ cells (PGCs), the embryonic precursors of eggs and sperm, are a unique model for identifying and studying regulatory mechanisms in singly migrating cells. From their time of specification to eventual colonization of the gonad, mouse PGCs traverse through and interact with many different cell types, including epithelial cells and mesenchymal tissues. Work in drosophila and zebrafish have identified many genes and signaling pathways involved in PGC migration, but little is known about this process in mammals. We have generated a point mutation in the Ror2 gene that we know disrupts primordial germ cell migration in the developing mouse embryo. We used microarray analysis to determine if this defect is mediated through genome-wide or pathway-specific transcriptional changes. We analyzed primordial germ cells (PGCs) from 4 wild-type (WT) and 4 Ror2Y324C/Y324C mutant embryos using Oct4-DPE-EGFP. PGCs were collected during their active migratory state at embryonic day 9.5 (somite range 20-25).
Project description:To investigate the role of NRF1 in regulating primordial germ cell development, We established conditional knockout mice of Nrf1 in primordial germ cell to observe the effect of Nrf1 knockout on the development of primordial germ cell. At the same time, we utilized a pluripotent stem cell differentiation system in vitro to obtain PGCL cells for chip_ Seq, analyze which genes Nrf1 directly binds to. Meanwhile, we established a pluripotent stem cell line induced by Nrf1 overexpression and performed RNA_seq analysis on PGCL cells overexpressing Nrf1 obtained in vitro
Project description:To investigate the role of NRF1 in regulating primordial germ cell development, We established conditional knockout mice of Nrf1 in primordial germ cell to observe the effect of Nrf1 knockout on the development of primordial germ cell. At the same time, we utilized a pluripotent stem cell differentiation system in vitro to obtain PGCL cells for chip_ Seq, analyze which genes Nrf1 directly binds to. Meanwhile, we established a pluripotent stem cell line induced by Nrf1 overexpression and performed RNA_seq analysis on PGCL cells overexpressing Nrf1 obtained in vitro
Project description:Malignant (type II) testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) are considered tumors of embryonic germ cell ancestry that diverge morphologically as seminoma (SE), and nonseminomas (NS), the latter including embryonal carcinoma (EC), teratoma (TE), yolk sac tumor (YS) and choriocarcinoma. We have analyzed the genomes and epigenomes of pure histological forms of TGCT (n=130) and 128 matched adjacent normal testicular tissues for TGCT core and subtype-specific DNA methylome profiles and somatic copy number aberrations (SCNA). Original data were compared with published data sets focused on differentiated and pluripotent states. First, we identified pan-TGCT recurrent erasure of maternal and paternal germline imprints and DPPA3 (STELLA), consistent with an embryonic germ cell ancestry. Beyond these conserved properties, we identified TGCT subtype-dependent epigenomic congruency with pluripotent versus somatic reference lineages, thereby establishing competency for lineage-conforming methylation reprogramming in the multi-potent common ancestor of TGCT. Notable subtype programming distinctions are as follows: the SE methylome reflects a ground-state of germ cell erasure; EC is found to harbor pervasive embryonic stem cell (ESC)-like CpH (non-CpG) methylation, absent in other TGCT and non-germ cell tumors and differentiated tissues. EC was further distinguished by ESC-like hypomethylation of NANOG, contrasting with NANOG methylation in TE, YS, and somatic tissues. Thus, EC methylomes present a novel mixed ESC/embryonic germ cell epigenomic state. TE global methylation was most convergent with somatic tissue; however, and unique among TGCT subtypes, TE manifested hypermethylation of the H19 paternal germline DMR. The YS methylome most closely resembled extra-embryonic trophoblast. The total set of findings provides evidence for a multi-potent TGCT stem cell whose progeny may harbor pluripotent, primordial germ/gonocyte, and somatic lineage-defining methylation marks. Despite such competency, no TGCT subtype restored erased parental germline imprints. TE is the exception, with H19 hypermethylation. Benign testis adjacent to TGCT exhibited a bimodal epigenotype distribution determined by spermatogenesis and significantly associated with high versus low Johnsen score. Overall, TGCT methylomes are trapped in a core embryonic germ cell-like state of DPPA3/STELLA and imprint erasure, while differential somatic and pluripotent reprogramming profiles are otherwise established.
Project description:Primordial germ cells (PGCs), the embryonic precursors of eggs and sperm, are a unique model for identifying and studying regulatory mechanisms in singly migrating cells. From their time of specification to eventual colonization of the gonad, mouse PGCs traverse through and interact with many different cell types, including epithelial cells and mesenchymal tissues. Work in drosophila and zebrafish have identified many genes and signaling pathways involved in PGC migration, but little is known about this process in mammals. We have generated a point mutation in the Ror2 gene that we know disrupts primordial germ cell migration in the developing mouse embryo. We used microarray analysis to determine if this defect is mediated through genome-wide or pathway-specific transcriptional changes.
Project description:Transgenic StellaGFP ESCs were used to derive primordial germ cells during embryoid body (EB) differentiation, and microarry analysis used to compared FACS sorted Stella-positive cells of day 7 Ebs with the parental ESCs and Stella-negative cells of day 7 Ebs. Experiment Overall Design: Four replicates of Stella-positive day 7 cells were compared to two replicates of stella-negative day 7 cells. Also, there were three replicated of FACS sorted Stella-negative ESCs, two replicated of FACS-sorted Stella-postive ESCs, and two replicates of unsorted StellaGFP ESCs.