Stra8
Developmental stage
Up-regulated in embryonic germ cells of the female gonads in an anterior-to-posterior wave from 12.5 dpc to 16.5 dpc. In male gonads, expression is first detected after birth.
Function
Meiosis-inducer required for the transition into meiosis for both female and male germ cells (PubMed:16461896, PubMed:17115059, PubMed:18799751, PubMed:18799790, PubMed:19805549, PubMed:32032549, PubMed:32054698). In female germ cells, acts downstream of ZGLP1 as a key effector of the meiotic program: required for premeiotic DNA replication and subsequent events in meiotic prophase (PubMed:16461896, PubMed:17115059, PubMed:18799751, PubMed:18799790, PubMed:32054698). During spermatogenesis, next to its role in meiotic initiation, promotes (but is not required for) spermatogonial differentiation (PubMed:25902548). In complex with MEIOSIN, directly activates the transcription of a subset of critical meiotic genes playing a central role in cell-cycle switching from mitosis to meiosis (PubMed:19805549, PubMed:32032549).
Post-translational modifications
Phosphorylated in P19 EC cells.
Tissue Specificity
Expressed exclusively in premeiotic germ cells in both sexes. In females, is expressed in the embryonic ovary. In males, is expressed in pubertal and adult testes, in premeiotic spermatogenic cells. Expressed by some type A and B spermatogonia, preleptotene spermatocytes, and early leptotene spermatocytes (at protein level). Expression begins in late undifferentiated spermatogonia and persists during differentiating spermatogonia (at protein level).
Cellular localization
- Cytoplasm
- Nucleus
- Shuttles between nucleus and cytoplasm (PubMed:19805549). Nuclear export is XPO1-dependent (PubMed:19805549).
Alternative names
Stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 protein, Stra8