Molecular basis of gametogenesis in polychaetes  _____________________________________________________

The  germ cell precursors arise as so-called primordial germ cells during embryonic or larval development and migrate later into the somatic gonads. Here they remain quiescent until they get stimulated by hormonal signals to undergo proliferation and differentiation. During the following gametogenesis, the oocytes grow by the incorporation of yolk protein.

We are studying different aspects of germ cell development in the marine polychaete  Platynereis dumerilii, a newly established molecular model organism from the group of the Lophotrochozoa, as well as in the closely related species  Nereis virens, which is larger and therefore especially well suited for  biochemical and cytological approaches.

From the study of  basal organisms such as polychaetes we expect to obtain insights into the evolution of germ cell development. First results suggest a close link between germ cells and stem cells in  Platynereis dumerilii. Furthermore we could show that steroids play an important role in the hormonal control of gametogenesis in Nereis virens. This later finding confirms that so-called vertebrate specific signalling pathways are  already present in lophotrochzoans and that it is rewarding to study members of this group in more detail.

_________________________________________________________________________                                                                                                                                                   

• Research
  

• Teaching
  

• Publications