NRF1 promotes primordial germ cell development, proliferation and survival
Pengxiang Wang1, Jun Su1, Junpeng Wang1
1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Cell Proliferation
|August 4, 2023
Summary
Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 1 (NRF1) is crucial for sustaining and expanding primordial germ cells (PGCs) after migration. This study reveals NRF1 regulates key genes for PGC development, proliferation, and survival.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are essential for reproduction, but their post-migration development and expansion remain incompletely understood.
- NRF1 is a known regulator of mitochondrial metabolism, but its role in germ cell development was previously uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of NRF1 in the development and maintenance of post-migratory PGCs.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which NRF1 influences PGC proliferation, survival, and derivation.
Main Methods:
- Conditional knockout of Nrf1 in embryonic germ cells.
- Whole genome transcriptome profiling.
- Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) analysis.
Main Results:
- NRF1 protein levels increase in post-migratory PGCs during embryonic development.
- Conditional Nrf1 knockout impairs PGC proliferation and survival.
- NRF1 directly regulates genes involved in PGC formation, proliferation, cell cycle, and mitochondrial metabolism.
Conclusions:
- NRF1 is essential for post-migratory PGC development, proliferation, and survival.
- NRF1 controls a broad transcriptional network critical for PGC maintenance and expansion.
- NRF1 plays a significant role in PGC derivation from pluripotent stem cells.
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