The role of germ cell-less in the formation of the germline / Judith L. Leatherman.

Format:

Book

Manuscript

Microformat

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Leatherman, Judith L.

Contributor:

Jongens, Thomas A., advisor.

University of Pennsylvania.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Penn dissertations--Cell and molecular biology.

Cell and molecular biology--Penn dissertations.

Cell and Molecular Biology.

Academic Dissertations as Topic.

Medical Subjects:

Cell and Molecular Biology.

Academic Dissertations as Topic.

Local Subjects:

Penn dissertations--Cell and molecular biology.

Cell and molecular biology--Penn dissertations.

Physical Description:

xi, 157 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 29 cm

Production:

2003.

Summary:

The germ lineage has long been studied with interest because of its crucial role in the propagation and survival of a species. In Drosophila and several other species, the formation of the germ cell precursors, or "pole cells" is dependent on a specialized cytoplasm called the germ plasm, which contains RNAs and proteins that are required for embryonic patterning and pole cell formation. The components of the germ plasm have been studied extensively with interest in identifying specific determinants of germ cell formation. Germ cell-less (gcl) appears to be one such determinant. It has been shown to be maternally required specifically for proper pole cell formation. However, little has been understood about its cellular role in this process. In this thesis, I present a multi-pronged approach we have taken to understand the role of this factor in germ cell specification. First, we have undertaken a study of gcl in mouse to determine whether its function in germ cell specification is evolutionarily conserved. Second, we have explored in greater depth the unusual distribution of GCL protein at the nuclear periphery in Drosophila pole cells. Third, the role of gcl in a conserved feature of the early germline, transcriptional quiescence, has been examined. And fourth, protein binding partners of GCL have been identified and studied. Through these studies, we have gained evidence to conclude that the cellular role of GCL in the early Drosophila embryo is to silence transcription, possibly by associating with chromatin binding proteins. We hypothesize that the translocation of chromatin to GCL at the periphery of the nucleus is an essential part of the mechanism by which silencing occurs. Through studies of mouse gcl-1, we conclude that gcl does not appear to be a conserved germ cell determinant, but it does have a broader conserved function in chromatin silencing and remodeling.

Notes:

Adviser: Thomas A. Jongens.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology) -- University of Pennsylvania, 2003.

Includes bibliographical references.

Local Notes:

University Microfilms order no.: 3095907.

OCLC:

244973210