Characterization of putative pluripotency-regulating genes and defining the role of germ cell-specific genes during reprogramming

• Applicants: Dr. Jessica Nolte; Professor Ulrich Zechner, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Cell Biology ; Human Genetics
• Term: from 2008 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 66168673

During the first funding period our aim was to further substantiate the pluripotency of our multipotent adult Germline Stem Cells (maGSCs) derived in vitro from Spermatogonial Stem Cells (SSCs) by performing several comparative analyses to other pluripotent stem cells. We could detect no significant differences between all the analysed pluripotent cell types so that there is no doubt left that maGSCs are indeed pluripotent and have the same potential as Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs), the gold standard of pluripotency.As a consequence from all our studies, and especially from the comparative analysis of the transcriptomes of undifferentiated and differentiated maGSCs and ESCs, we found several candidate genes for the regulation and/or maintenance of the pluripotent state. Within the second funding period we want to analyse the function of two candidate genes extensively in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we plan to investigate the function of two germ cell-specific genes in reprogramming of somatic cells to induced Pluripotent Stem cells (iPSCs).

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1356: Pluripotency and Cellular Reprogramming
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Wolfgang Engel (†)