Adashev Vladimir E, Kotov Alexei A, Olenina Ludmila V
Department of Molecular Mechanisms for Realization of Genetic Information, Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics of Animals, National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Kurchatov Sq. 1, 123182 Moscow, Russia.
Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2023 Jul 5;45(7):5677-5705. doi: 10.3390/cimb45070358.
Being a conservative marker of germ cells across metazoan species, DEAD box RNA helicase Vasa (DDX4) remains the subject of worldwide investigations thanks to its multiple functional manifestations. Vasa takes part in the preformation of primordial germ cells in a group of organisms and contributes to the maintenance of germline stem cells. Vasa is an essential player in the piRNA-mediated silencing of harmful genomic elements and in the translational regulation of selected mRNAs. Vasa is the top hierarchical protein of germ granules, liquid droplet organelles that compartmentalize RNA processing factors. Here, we survey current advances and problems in the understanding of the multifaceted functions of Vasa proteins in the gametogenesis of different eukaryotic organisms, from nematodes to humans.
作为后生动物物种中生殖细胞的保守标志物，DEAD盒RNA解旋酶Vasa（DDX4）因其多种功能表现而仍是全球研究的对象。Vasa参与了一组生物体中原始生殖细胞的形成，并有助于维持生殖系干细胞。Vasa在piRNA介导的有害基因组元件沉默以及选定mRNA的翻译调控中起着至关重要的作用。Vasa是生殖颗粒的顶级层级蛋白，生殖颗粒是将RNA加工因子分隔开来的液滴状细胞器。在这里，我们综述了目前在理解Vasa蛋白在从线虫到人类等不同真核生物配子发生中的多方面功能方面的进展和问题。
