# Mechanisms of specification, quiescence, and regeneration of primordial germ cells

> **NIH NIH R35** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $41,460

## Abstract

Summary
Increasing the diversity in our BioMedical research workforce is key to maximize progress in our
understanding of the basic and translational applications of life sciences. The thesis project of
Gerardo Reyes will extend the research depth and breadth for understanding germ line
formation by inductive interactions using the sea star. Mr. Reyes’ passed his qualifying
examination and defense of his thesis proposal in May 2021. His proposal builds upon the
Parent Research Plan #2 (summarized here): Targets and mechanisms of inductive signaling
for specification of the primordial germ cells (PGCs). Significant progress has been made in
research on mouse and human iPScells induced to form PGCs in vitro. We focus our work
instead on in vivo analysis of PGC specification during intercellular signaling mechanisms and
directly observe rapid acquisition of induced cell fates in live embryos. This Administrative
Supplement will contribute by 1) Determining the hierarchy of signaling pathways and
developmental timing required for inductive germline specification. 2) Identifying the
molecular mechanism for commitment to the germline by induction mechanisms in vivo.
We hypothesize that once germ cells are formed, they rapidly insulate themselves from local
embryonic signaling mechanisms and instead transition to a committed cell type with a unique
transcriptome, chromatin landscape, and signal response profile. We will test this model by
single cell mRNA sequencing and optogenetic control over signaling (light-inducible Nodal
receptor) and transcriptional events at a single cell resolution. The thesis research of Gerardo
Reyes focuses on identifying the inductive pathway for BLIMP1 expression and to identify the
BLIMP1 targets of regulation in the germ line. The research of Mr. Reyes will be instrumental to
the core principles of the parent grant and to the mission of diversifying the research workforce
by direct training of historically underrepresented candidates.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10472183
- **Project number:** 3R35GM140897-01S2
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** GARY M WESSEL
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $41,460
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-06-01 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10472183

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10472183, Mechanisms of specification, quiescence, and regeneration of primordial germ cells (3R35GM140897-01S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10472183. Licensed CC0.

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