Zglp1, also known as Zinc finger GATA like protein-1, is a nuclear zinc finger protein. It plays a crucial role in regulating the interaction between somatic cells and germ cells during gonad development. It acts downstream of bone morphogenetic protein and is essential for the oogenic program and meiotic entry in mammals [1,2].

In mice, ZGLP1 was found to be a determinant for the oogenic fate. Overexpression of ZGLP1 can induce the differentiation of in vitro primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs) into fetal oocytes by activating oogenic programs repressed by Polycomb activities [1]. In the Chinese tongue sole, cysezglp1 was cloned and characterized. It is predominantly expressed in gonads, with higher expression in the ovary, and is mainly expressed in oocytes, suggesting its important role in oogenesis [2]. In monkeys, ZGLP1 shows differentially expressed patterns compared to mice, and is thought to be involved in meiosis entry but not in activating the oogenic program in primates [3]. In the four-eyed sleeper, zglp1 was among the earliest sex-biased transcription factors during sex differentiation [4]. In human induced pluripotent stem cells, co-expression of ZGLP1 along with other transcription factors can rapidly convert them to induced oogonia-like cells [5]. In the pearl oyster, pmarg-zglp1 was investigated in relation to gametogenesis and gender control by environmental and hormonal factors [6].

In conclusion, Zglp1 is essential for oogenic fate determination and oogenesis across different species. Studies on Zglp1, especially those using mouse models, have provided insights into mammalian oogenic fate determination mechanisms, which may contribute to promoting in vitro gametogenesis and reproductive medicine [1].

References:

1. Nagaoka, So I, Nakaki, Fumio, Miyauchi, Hidetaka, Yamamoto, Takuya, Saitou, Mitinori. 2020. ZGLP1 is a determinant for the oogenic fate in mice. In Science (New York, N.Y.), 367, . doi:10.1126/science.aaw4115. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32054698/

2. Dong, Zhongdian, Zhang, Ning, Liu, Yang, Shao, Changwei, Chen, Songlin. 2018. Expression analysis and characterization of zglp1 in the Chinese tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). In Gene, 683, 72-79. doi:10.1016/j.gene.2018.10.003. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30312653/

3. Zhao, Zheng-Hui, Li, Chun-Yang, Meng, Tie-Gang, Sun, Qing-Yuan, Sun, Qiang. 2020. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals regulation of fetal ovary development in the monkey (Macaca fascicularis). In Cell discovery, 6, 97. doi:10.1038/s41421-020-00219-0. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33372178/

4. Dong, Mengdan, Tang, Mingyue, Li, Wenjing, Yi, Meisheng, Liu, Wei. 2023. Morphological and transcriptional analysis of sexual differentiation and gonadal development in a burrowing fish, the four-eyed sleeper (Bostrychus sinensis). In Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part D, Genomics & proteomics, 48, 101148. doi:10.1016/j.cbd.2023.101148. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37865042/

5. Pierson Smela, Merrick, Kramme, Christian C, Fortuna, Patrick R J, Church, George M, Chatterjee, Pranam. 2025. Rapid human oogonia-like cell specification via transcription factor-directed differentiation. In EMBO reports, 26, 1114-1143. doi:10.1038/s44319-025-00371-2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39849206/

6. Teaniniuraitemoana, Vaihiti, Leprêtre, Maxime, Levy, Peva, Huvet, Arnaud, Le Moullac, Gilles. 2015. Effect of temperature, food availability, and estradiol injection on gametogenesis and gender in the pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera. In Journal of experimental zoology. Part A, Ecological genetics and physiology, 325, 13-24. doi:10.1002/jez.1992. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26482470/