# Maternal control of germline development

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN · 2020 · $65,003

## Abstract

Project Summary:
In the parent grant (R35GM131810), we proposed to study early germline development using
Xenopus as a model. Specifically, we propose to study: 1) a novel mRNA translocation event
essential for the activation of germ plasm during the oocyte-to-embryo transition, and 2) regulation
of the first wave of primordial germ cell (PGC) proliferation by Dzip1, a novel maternal germ plasm
component. Through these studies, we hope to better understand how maternal factors operate
at the translational and post-translational levels to regulate early PGC development. These
studies are highly relevant to human reproductive health and would make important contributions
to our understanding of basic cell, reproductive, and developmental biology. The proposed studies
rely heavily on healthy oocytes and embryos of Xenopus laevis. We are currently using a flow
through Xenopus housing system, which was purchased in 2011. The design of the system was
not optimal. As it gets old, it becomes increasingly difficult to remove biological wastes from the
system. To maintain the water quality, animal care staff has to increase the frequency for water
exchange and tank cleaning significantly, causing serious adverse effects on the reproductive
system of the frog. This makes it increasingly difficult for us to obtain high quality oocytes and
embryos, which started to delay our research progress. Here we request funds for replacing the
existing frog housing system with a more modern recirculating Xenopus housing system from
IWAKI Aquatic.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10125751
- **Project number:** 3R35GM131810-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
- **Principal Investigator:** Jing Yang
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $65,003
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10125751

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10125751, Maternal control of germline development (3R35GM131810-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10125751. Licensed CC0.

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