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Molecular biological features of male germ cell differentiation

  • Review Article
  • Gametogenesis
  • Published:
Reproductive Medicine and Biology

Abstract

Somatic cell differentiation is required throughout the life of a multicellular organism to maintain homeostasis. In contrast, germ cells have only one specific function; to preserve the species by conveying the parental genes to the next generation. Recent studies of the development and molecular biology of the male germ cell have identified many genes, or isoforms, that are specifically expressed in the male germ cell. In the present review, we consider the unique features of male germ cell differentiation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. TANAKA Project, Center for Advanced Science and Innovation Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Osaka, Japan

    Hiromitsu Tanaka, Mika Hirose, Keizo Tokuhiro & Hitoshi Tainaka

  2. Department of Urology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan

    Yasushi Miyagawa, Akira Tsujimura & Akihiko Okuyama

  3. Research Collaboration Center on Emerging and Reemerging Infections, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan

    Yoshitake Nishimune

Authors
  1. Hiromitsu Tanaka
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  2. Mika Hirose
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  3. Keizo Tokuhiro
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  4. Hitoshi Tainaka
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  5. Yasushi Miyagawa
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  6. Akira Tsujimura
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  7. Akihiko Okuyama
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  8. Yoshitake Nishimune
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Correspondence to Hiromitsu Tanaka.

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Tanaka, H., Hirose, M., Tokuhiro, K. et al. Molecular biological features of male germ cell differentiation. Reprod Med Biol 6, 1–9 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0578.2007.00158.x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0578.2007.00158.x

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