Stay Connected: A Germ Cell Strategy

Kevin Lu; Lindy Jensen; Lei Lei; Yukiko M Yamashita

doi:10.1016/j.tig.2017.09.001

Stay Connected: A Germ Cell Strategy

Trends Genet. 2017 Dec;33(12):971-978. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2017.09.001. Epub 2017 Sep 22.

Authors

Kevin Lu¹, Lindy Jensen², Lei Lei³, Yukiko M Yamashita⁴

Affiliations

¹ Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
² Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
³ Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
⁴ Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: yukikomy@umich.edu.

Abstract

Germ cells develop as a cyst of interconnected sibling cells in a broad range of organisms in both sexes. A well-established function of intercellular connectivity is to transport cytoplasmic materials from 'nurse' cells to oocytes, a critical process for developing functional oocytes in ovaries of many species. However, there are situations where connectivity exists without a nursing mechanism, and the biological meaning of such connectivity remains obscure. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the formation of intercellular connectivity, and discuss its meaning by visiting multiple examples of germ cell connectivity observed in evolutionarily distant species.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Animals
Cytoplasm / physiology
Female
Germ Cells / physiology*
Oocytes / physiology
Oogenesis / physiology
Ovary / physiology

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

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