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First published online 5 March 2008
doi: 10.1242/dev.019497

Development 135, 1415-1425 (2008)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2008
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Sdmg1 is a conserved transmembrane protein associated with germ cell sex determination and germline-soma interactions in mice

Diana Best1, Daniela A. Sahlender2, Norbert Walther3, Andrew A. Peden2 and Ian R. Adams1,4,5,*

1 MRC Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
2 Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 2XY, UK.
3 School of Life Science, University of Hamburg, Hamburg D-22527, Germany.
4 Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, School of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Edinburgh, MRC Human Genetics Unit Building, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
5 Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: ian.adams{at}hgu.mrc.ac.uk)

Accepted 13 February 2008

In mammals, the supporting cell lineage in an embryonic gonad communicates the sex-determining decision to various sexually dimorphic cell types in the developing embryo, including the germ cells. However, the molecular nature of the sex-determining signals that pass from the supporting cells to the germ cells is not well understood. We have identified a conserved transmembrane protein, Sdmg1, owing to its male-specific expression in mouse embryonic gonads. Sdmg1 is expressed in the Sertoli cells of embryonic testes from 12.5 dpc, and in granulosa cells of growing follicles in adult ovaries. In Sertoli cells, Sdmg1 is localised to endosomes, and knock-down of Sdmg1 in Sertoli cell lines causes mis-localisation of the secretory SNARE Stx2 and defects in membrane trafficking. Upregulation of Sdmg1 appears to be part of a larger programme of changes to membrane trafficking pathways in embryonic Sertoli cells, and perturbing secretion in male embryonic gonads in organ culture causes male-to-female germ cell sex reversal. These data suggest that changes that occur in the cell biology of embryonic Sertoli cells may facilitate the communication of male sex-determining decisions to the germ cells during embryonic development.

Key words: Mouse, Primordial germ cells, Sertoli cell, Membrane trafficking, Sdmg1 (Tmem184a)


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Development 2008 135: e801. [Full Text]  



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