International Mammalian Genome Society

G17 Molecular and Genetic Control of Mouse Primordial Germ Cell Development

Lily Jiang and Joseph Nadeau. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

During mouse embryonic development, primordial germ cells (PGCs) migrate into the genital ridges at E11.5. During migration PGCs undergo extensive cell proliferation. While shortly after they reach the genital ridges they stop proliferation and undergo G1 arrest. Failure of cell cycle arrest may lead to testicular teratomas in male mouse. Using mouse models for testicular cancer we have begun to study the molecular and genetic control of PGC development. Our first approach is to examine the differential genes expression patterns in tumor prone and tumor resistant strains during this critical developmental period. Genital ridges from C57BL/6, 129/Sv, and 129.MOLF-Chr19 strains were collected at E12.5 and E14.5. Male ridges were pooled to extract total RNA. cDNA probes made from these RNAs were applied to Clontech mouse cDNA arrays to analyze which genes and pathways are consistently differentially expressed. Comparisons were made to address the strain differences as well as developmental differences. Genes that are differentially expressed are being further tested by in situ antibody staining or mRNA hybridization to verify if they are expressed in the right cells and at the right time. To identify new genes that control PGC development, we are undertaking PCR-based subtraction screen using the RNAs from male genital ridges. These data will be presented at the meeting. Furthermore, we are also examining genetic interactions between several tumor prone and resistant strains.