Keeping meiotic entry in check

The differentiation of germline progenitor cells into meiocytes is crucial for the production of healthy gametes. In C. elegans, this step is governed by three post-transcriptional pathways, one of which relies on specific protein degradation mediated by the SCF PROM-1 ubiquitin ligase. In new work published in Science Advances, the lab of Verena Jantsch has identified the protein phosphatase PPM-1.D as a target of PROM-1 and a novel meiotic regulator. The work is a collaboration with the lab of Sebastian Falk at the Max Perutz Labs as well as the lab of Tim Schedl from Washington University School of Medicine and the lab of Yumi Kim from John Hopkins University.