Genes

Abstract

The present invention relates to two primordial germ cell-specific expressed genes, Fragilis and Stella . The sequences and sues of human Stella and Fragilis are disclosed herein, as are several mouse sequences related to Fragilis . The present invention relates to the use of Stella and Fragilis as markers for primordial germ cells and can be used to identify such cells. Additionally, the present invention relates to the use of Stella and Fragilis for the diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of disease.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A polypeptide comprising a human  Stella  amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, or a sequence that is at least 95% identical thereto, wherein the polypeptide can serve as a marker of pluripotency. 
     
     
         19 . A polynucleotide sequence that codes for the polypeptide of claim  1 , suitable for use as a marker of pluripotency. 
     
     
         20 . The polynucleotide sequence of  claim 19 , wherein the sequence is as shown in SEQ ID NO:3 or a sequence that is at least 95% identical thereto. 
     
     
         21 . A method for identifying a pluripotent cell comprising detecting expression of a  Stella  nucleic acid sequence in the cell. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the nucleic acid sequence is as shown in SEQ ID NO:3 or a sequence that is at least 95% identical thereto. 
     
     
         23 . A method for identifying a pluripotent cell comprising detecting expression of a  Stella  polypeptide in the cell. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the  Stella  polypeptide is as shown in SEQ ID NO:4, or a sequence that is at least 95% identical thereto. 
     
     
         25 . A polynucleotide expression construct suitable for detecting pluripotency in a cell, comprising:
 i) at least the upstream sequences of a human  Stella  gene; and   ii) the coding sequence of a reporter gene,   
       wherein expression of the coding sequence of the reporter gene is in operable combination with and under the control of the transcriptional control sequences of the human  Stella  gene, and 
       wherein induction of expression of the reporter gene in the cell can be detected and thereby correlated with a pluripotent phenotype in the cell. 
     
     
         26 . The polynucleotide expression construct of  claim 25 , wherein the upstream sequences of the  Stella  gene include the 5′ untranslated region of the  Stella  gene. 
     
     
         27 . The polynucleotide expression construct of  claim 25 , wherein the upstream sequences of the human  Stella  gene comprise up to about 8.5 kb of the nucleic acid sequence located upstream of the first exon of the human  Stella  coding sequence. 
     
     
         28 . The polynucleotide expression construct of  claim 25 , wherein the expression construct is in the form of a transgene that can be integrated into the genome of the cell. 
     
     
         29 . The polynucleotide expression construct of  claim 25 , wherein the cell is a stem cell. 
     
     
         30 . The polynucleotide expression construct of  claim 25 , wherein the cell is selected from one of the group consisting of: a pluripotent cell; an embryonic stem cell; an embryonic germ cell; a germ cell tumour cell; and a primordial germ cell. 
     
     
         31 . The polynucleotide expression construct of  claim 25 , wherein the cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         31 . The polynucleotide expression construct of  claim 25 , wherein the reporter gene is a green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene. 
     
     
         32 . A cell comprising a polynucleotide expression construct of  claim 25 . 
     
     
         33 . A non-human transgenic animal comprising a cell that comprises a polynucleotide expression construct of  claim 25 .