NANOS2

Official Full Name

nanos C2HC-type zinc finger 2

Organism

Homo sapiens

GeneID

339345

Background

Enables enzyme activator activity. Involved in mRNA destabilization and negative regulation of translation. Located in nucleus and perinuclear region of cytoplasm. [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Feb 2025]

Synonyms

NOS2; ZC2HC12B;

Cat.No.	Product Name	Price

Cat.No.	Product Name	Price

Cat.No.	Product Name	Price

Cat.No.	Product Name	Price

Detailed Information

Nanos is a maternal effector gene of Drosophila that encodes an RNA-binding protein. During the development of Drosophila embryos, Nanos and another RNA-binding protein Pumilio bind to each other to form a complex that inhibits the translation of Hunchback, Cyclin B and Hid mRNAs. They play an important role in the establishment of polarity, mitotic quiescence and apoptosis inhibition in Drosophila embryos. If the maternal Nanos gene is missing, the primordial germ cells (PGCs) of Drosophila embryos cannot migrate to the gonads and will not be converted into normal germ cells. Nanos2, a member of the Nanos gene family, encodes an evolutionarily conserved RNA-binding protein expressed in embryonic male primordial germ cells (PGCs) and testicular spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), a male germ cell specificity gene.

Expression Regulation of Nanos2

During mouse embryonic development, fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) secreted by somatic cells acts on the corresponding receptors on the surface of male germ cells, promoting the expression of Nanos2 gene. The study found that the nodal/activin-A signal pathway can directly act on embryonic male germ cells independent of FGF9 and induce Nanos2 gene expression; if this signaling pathway is disrupted, male PGCs will abnormally enter the meiosis process.

During mouse sperm production, the cell-derived glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) promotes the expression of the Nanos2 gene. Nanos2 acts as a downstream signal of GDNF and is involved in the maintenance of undifferentiated state of mouse testis SSCs. In addition, microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the regulation of Nanos2 gene expression. miR-34c binds to the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of Nanos2 mRNA and inhibits the expression of the Nanos2 gene at the post-transcriptional level, thereby promoting mouse stem cell differentiation.

Figure 1. Working model of sexual differentiation of XY germ cells in the mouse. (Kato, Y., et al. 2016)

Nanos2 Promotes Embryonic Male Germ Cell Development

Nanos2 begins to express at specific stages of male PGCs entering sex differentiation. During embryonic sex differentiation, Dazl (deleted in azoospermia like, Dazl) is a germ cell-specific gene that is highly expressed in male PGCs and enhances the sensitivity of male PGCs to RA signaling pathways. However, the meiosis process of male PGCs can still be inhibited by the RA metabolic enzyme CYP26B1 secreted by somatic cells. Overexpression of Dazl prevents sex differentiation of male PGCs. Nanos2 binds to the 3'-UTR of Dazl mRNA and inhibits the expression of Dazl gene. In addition, Nanos2 also antagonizes Dazl protein. Nanos2 can inhibit Dazl in both ways and promote sex differentiation of male PGCs.

During mammalian embryonic development, Nanos2 is required for the differential differentiation of male PGCs. After CYP26B1 expression is reduced, Nanos2 also inhibits Stra8 gene expression and prevents male PGCs from entering the meiosis process. Male PGCs lacking the Nanos2 gene do not express embryonic male-specific genes such as Dnmt3L, TDRD1, etc., and will abnormally enter the meiosis process. However, after the expression of Nanos2 in female PGCs, the normal meiosis of female PGCs is also inhibited. In addition, Saba et al. found that the male meiosis process of male PGCs was inhibited in male mice with Nanos2/Stra8 double knockout, but the expression of male-specific genes in embryonic period did not recover compared with Nanos2 single gene deletion. Nanos2-mediated embryonic male-specific gene expression and meiotic inhibition are two relatively independent processes.

References:

Park, K. E. , Kaucher, A. V. , Powell, A. , Waqas, M. S. , Sandmaier, S. E. S. , & Oatley, M. J. , et al. (2017). Generation of germline ablated male pigs by crispr/cas9 editing of the nanos2 gene. Scientific Reports, 7, 40176.
Saba, R. , Kato, Y. , & Saga, Y. . (2014). Nanos2 promotes male germ cell development independent of meiosis suppression. Developmental Biology, 385(1), 32-40.
Kato, Y. , Katsuki, T. , Kokubo, H. , Masuda, A. , & Saga, Y. . (2016). Dazl is a target rna suppressed by mammalian nanos2 in sexually differentiating male germ cells. Nature Communications, 7, 11272.

Quick Inquiry

Interested in learning more?

Contact us today for a free consultation with the scientific team and discover how Creative Biogene can be a valuable resource and partner for your organization.

Request a quote today!

Inquiry