Germline stem cells: the first guards of heredity

Cell Stem Cell. 2008 Feb 7;2(2):108-10. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2008.01.006.

Abstract

The genes involved in the cellular response to DNA damage are crucial for ensuring DNA integrity during spermatogenesis. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Takubo et al. (2008) show that ATM, a key kinase of the DNA damage response, is also involved in maintaining the stem cell potential of undifferentiated spermatogonia.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • DNA Repair
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Heredity / physiology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology*
  • Spermatogonia / cytology
  • Spermatogonia / physiology*
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Atm protein, mouse
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases