ABSTRACT The pathways of gametogenesis encompass elaborate cellular specialization accompanied by precise partitioning of the genome content in order to produce fully matured spermatozoa and oocytes. Transcription factors are an important class of molecules that function in gametogenesis to regulate intrinsic gene expression programs, play essential roles in specifying (or determining) germ cell fate and assist in guiding full maturation of germ cells and maintenance of their populations. Moreover, in order to reinforce or redirect cell fate in vitro, it is transcription factors that are most frequently induced, over-expressed or activated. Many reviews have focused on the molecular development and genetics of gametogenesis, in vivo and in vitro, in model organisms and in humans, including several recent comprehensive reviews: here, we focus specifically on the role of transcription factors. Recent advances in stem cell biology and multi-omic studies have enabled deeper investigation into the unique transcriptional mechanisms of human reproductive development. Moreover, as methods continually improve, in vitro differentiation of germ cells can provide the platform for robust gain- and loss-of-function genetic analyses. These analyses are delineating unique and shared human germ cell transcriptional network components that, together with somatic lineage specifiers and pluripotency transcription factors, function in transitions from pluripotent stem cells to gametes. This grand theme review offers additional insight into human infertility and reproductive disorders that are linked predominantly to defects in the transcription factor networks and thus may potentially contribute to the development of novel treatments for infertility.

中文翻译：

---

人类配子发生的转录控制

摘要 配子发生的途径包括复杂的细胞特化，伴随着基因组内容的精确分配，以产生完全成熟的精子和卵母细胞。转录因子是一类重要的分子，在配子发生中发挥作用，调节内在基因表达程序，在指定（或决定）生殖细胞命运中发挥重要作用，并有助于指导生殖细胞的完全成熟和维持其种群。此外，为了在体外强化或改变细胞命运，最常被诱导、过表达或激活的是转录因子。许多评论都集中在配子发生的分子发育和遗传学，体内和体外，模型生物和人类中，包括最近的几篇综合评论：这里，我们特别关注转录因子的作用。干细胞生物学和多组学研究的最新进展使我们能够更深入地研究人类生殖发育的独特转录机制。此外，随着方法的不断改进，生殖细胞的体外分化可以为强大的功能增益和功能丧失遗传分析提供平台。这些分析描绘了独特和共享的人类生殖细胞转录网络成分，这些成分与体细胞谱系指定因子和多能转录因子一起，在从多能干细胞到配子的转变中发挥作用。