Transcriptional Regulation in Ovarian Development
Summary
Ovarian development is orchestrated by finely tuned transcriptional programmes that govern the specification, differentiation and function of somatic and germ cells. Central to this process is the forkhead transcription factor FOXL2, which establishes granulosa cell identity and maintains follicular integrity by repressing male pathway genes and mobilising oestrogen receptor activity. Alongside FOXL2, steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1/NR5A1) and other nuclear receptors coordinate the expression of key regulators of folliculogenesis, including anti-Müllerian hormone and enzymes of steroid biosynthesis. Chromatin remodelling and the dynamic interplay between activators, repressors and cis-regulatory elements ensure that primordial follicles form, that germ cell nests break down postnatally and that waves of follicle recruitment support reproductive lifespan. Multi-omics approaches have revealed stage-specific shifts in chromatin accessibility, DNA-binding site occupancy and transcriptome profiles from embryonic to adult ovaries. Dysregulation of these transcriptional networks contributes to disorders such as premature ovarian insufficiency, polycystic ovary syndrome and infertility. Advances in cellular reprogramming have further demonstrated the potential to generate functional granulosa-like cells in vitro, opening avenues for disease modelling and regenerative therapies.
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Transcriptional Regulation in Ovarian Development publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in transcriptional regulation in ovarian development across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Transcription factor: A protein that binds specific DNA sequences to regulate gene expression.
Chromatin accessibility: The degree to which DNA is exposed and available for transcriptional machinery.
Cis-regulatory element: A non-coding DNA region (such as an enhancer or promoter) that controls the transcription of nearby genes.
Primordial follicle: The earliest stage of ovarian follicle, consisting of an immature oocyte surrounded by a single layer of somatic cells.
Granulosa cell: Somatic cell that surrounds and supports the developing oocyte, crucial for hormone production and follicle maturation.
References
- The transcription factor FOXL2 mobilizes estrogen signaling to maintain the identity of ovarian granulosa cells. eLife (2014).
- FOXL2 Is an Essential Activator of SF-1-Induced Transcriptional Regulation of Anti-Müllerian Hormone in Human Granulosa Cells. PLOS ONE (2016).
- FOXL2 interaction with different binding partners regulates the dynamics of ovarian development. Science Advances (2024).
- FOXL2 and NR5A1 induce human fibroblasts into steroidogenic ovarian granulosa‐like cells. Cell Proliferation (2024).
- Dissecting the fate of Foxl2-expressing cells in fetal ovary using lineage tracing and single-cell transcriptomics. Cell Discovery (2022).
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