Schematic diagram illustrating the molecular mechanism of telomere function in germline fate decision. (IMAGE)

Science China Press

Schematic diagram illustrating the molecular mechanism of telomere function in germline fate decision.

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Short telomere promotes excessive chromatin accessibility locally, upregulating TGFβ and MAPK signaling. TGFβ signaling pathway such as Fst inhibits BMP4-pSMAD1/5/8 signaling pathway, induces somatic cell lineage and suppresses germ cell specification. MAPK signaling also induces somatic cell lineage. Upregulation of somatic genes and downregulation of germ cell genes impair PGC specification both in vivo and in vitro.

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