It is known that undifferentiated germ cells present within embryonic tissue multiply rapidly. However, it was discovered that when the transcriptional regulator Larp7 did not function, the expression of the gene that inhibits the progress of the cell cycle was induced and the growth stopped. These results show that this genetic abnormality may be the cause of infertility, caused by the aplasia of germ cells, and the cause of certain pediatric tumors caused by the proliferation of primordial germ cells. The research results have been published in the electronic edition of Genes & Development on November 15. The paper's title is "Cell cycle gene-specific control of transcription has a critical role in proliferation of primordial germ cells. "

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer Tohoku University

Address: 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575 Japan

TEL: +81-22-717-8571 FAX: +81-22-717-7573

Professor Matsuhisa Yasui

Cell Resourse Center for Biomedical Research

E-mail: ymatsui*idac.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)