High impact information on pgc

• This polar granule component shows significant sequence similarity to eIF-4A, a translation initiation factor that binds to mRNA, and to other helicases [1].
• Most pole cells in embryos produced by transgenic females expressing antisense Pgc RNA failed to complete migration and to populate the embryonic gonads, and females that developed from these embryos often had agametic ovaries [2].
• Consistently, pole cells compromised for pgc function exhibit elevated levels of activated MAP kinase and premature transcription of the target gene tailless (tll) [3].
• In addition, we found that Aubergine was recruited to the posterior pole in a vas-dependent manner and is itself a polar granule component [4].
• Aubergine encodes a Drosophila polar granule component required for pole cell formation and related to eIF2C [4].

Biological context of pgc

• Germ cells lacking pgc RNA express genes important for differentiation of nearby somatic cells and show premature phosphorylation of RNApolII [5].
• We further show that germ cells lacking pgc show increased levels of K4, but not K9 histone H3 methylation, and that the chromatin remodeling Swi/Snf complex is required for a second stage in germ cell transcriptional repression [5].
• Although GLHs are homologous to Drosophila VASA, a polar granule component necessary for oogenesis and embryonic pattern formation, the GLHs are distinguished by containing multiple CCHC zinc fingers [6].
• Ultrastructure of sections involving 58D/59A, 61C/D, 62D/63A, 64B/C, 67A/B, and 68B/C breakpoints on Est chromosomes were compared with the ultrastructure of sections involving chromosomes were compared with the ultrastructure of sections involving 58D/68B, 62D/64C, 59A/63A, 64B/68C, 67B/61C, and 67A/61B breakpoints on E1 + 2 + 9 + 12 chromosomes [7].

Anatomical context of pgc

• This family has more than 40 members, including the eukaryotic translation initiation factor-4A (eIF-4A), the human nuclear protein p68, and the Drosophila oocyte polar granule component vasa [8].

References