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Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
REVIEW

Functions of promyelocytic leukaemia zinc finger (Plzf) in male germline stem cell development and differentiation

Daguia Zambe John Clotaire A B , Yudong Wei A , Xiuwei Yu A , Tamgue Ousman C and Jinlian Hua A D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.

B Laboratoire des sciences Agronomiques et Biologiques pour le Développement (LASBAD), Faculty of Science, University of Bangui, Bangui, 999111, Central Africa.

C Department of Biochemistry, University of Douala, Douala, 999108, Cameroon.

D Corresponding author. Email: jinlianhua@nwsuaf.edu.cn

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 31(8) 1315-1320 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD18252
Submitted: 1 July 2018  Accepted: 16 February 2019   Published: 23 April 2019

Abstract

Promyelocytic leukaemia zinc finger (Plzf), also known as zinc finger and BTB domain containing 16 (ZBTB16) or zinc-finger protein 145 (ZFP145), is a critical zinc finger protein of male germline stem cells (mGSCs). Multiple lines of evidence indicate that Plzf has a central role in the development, differentiation and maintenance of many stem cells, including mGSCs, and Plzf has been validated as an essential transcription factor for mammalian testis development and spermatogenesis. This review summarises current literature focusing on the significance of Plzf in maintaining and regulating self-renewal and differentiation of mGSCs, especially goat mGSCs. The review summarises evidence of the specificity of Plzf expression in germ cell development stage, the known functions of Plzf and the microRNA-mediated mechanisms that control Plzf expression in mGSCs.

Additional keywords: heterochromatin, microRNAs, self-renewal.


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