Thursday, June 19, 2025 6/19/2025

Regulation of Germ Cell Fate During Embryogenesis

Award Number: R37HD037047
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/01/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2025

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Regulation of Germ Cell Fate During Embryogenesis - DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term goal of this project is to characterize the mechanisms that specify the fate of the germline, a fundamental problem in developmental biology. In all animals, the founder cells of the germline (primordial germ cells) display two conserved characteristics: they possess germ granules, RNA granules specific to the germline, and they express members of the Nanos family of RNA-binding proteins. The goal of this proposal is to understand how germ granules and Nanos function together to specify the fate of primordial germ cells. In preliminary work, we have found that PGCs that lack Nanos activity prematurely activates the expression of ~1000 genes normally expressed in oocytes and somatic cells, a phenotype also seen in mutants that lack the Polycomb Repressive Complex. Specific Aim I will identify the mechanisms used by Nanos to prevent this massive gene mis-regulation. We have already identified one promising candidate Nanos target: LIN-15B, a likely component of the DRM transcription factor complex that activates gene expression in oocytes. Specific Aim II will examine the role of a new group of germ granule proteins we recently characterized. The MEG proteins form stabilizing scaffolds around the central cores of each germ granule. Our genetic analyses indicate that the MEGs, but not the proteins in the core, are essential for PGC fate. We will investigate how the MEGs, predicted to be intrinsically-disordered with no recognizable domain, function with Nanos to specify PGCs. Two technical breakthroughs support this application. First we have worked out methods to isolate PGCs in large enough numbers to determine their transcriptome by RNAseq. We will use this method to define how Nanos and germ granule proteins affect the PGC transcriptome at a genome-wide level. Second we have developed a highly efficient genome editing method, using CRISPR/Cas9, that allows us to mutate, tag, delete and replace any gene of interest in just 4 days. This method gives us unprecedented genetic and biochemical access to the genes and proteins that are the focus of this application.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $401,188 )
2025	2025	THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	25	4/16/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$40,119
2025	2025	THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	25	11/6/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$361,069
														Subtotal = $401,188

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $397,176 )
2024	2024	THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	24	5/2/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$36,107
2024	2024	THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	24	11/7/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$361,069
														Subtotal = $397,176

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $401,188 )
2023	2023	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	23	11/15/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$361,069
2023	2023	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	23	2/7/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$40,119
														Subtotal = $401,188

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $401,188 )
2022	2022	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	003	22	4/19/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$40,119
2022	2022	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	002	22	11/11/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$361,069
2022	2021	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	21	11/9/2021	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$79,325
2022	2020	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	20	11/9/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$79,325
														Subtotal = $401,188

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $401,188 )
2021	2021	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	21	11/3/2020	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$368,438
2021	2021	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	21	2/4/2021	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$32,750
														Subtotal = $401,188

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $364,500 )
2020	2020	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	20	11/15/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$328,050
2020	2020	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	20	2/7/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$36,450
														Subtotal = $364,500

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $364,500 )
2019	2019	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	19	10/23/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$364,500
														Subtotal = $364,500

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $364,500 )
2018	2018	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	18	4/25/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$36,450
2018	2018	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	18	10/17/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$328,050
														Subtotal = $364,500

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $364,500 )
2017	2017	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	1101 E 33RD ST STE B001	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	17	10/27/2016	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$328,050
2017	2017	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	17	6/14/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$36,450
														Subtotal = $364,500

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $364,500 )
2016	2016	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	1101 E 33RD STREET, STE-C-210	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	16	11/13/2015	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$364,500
														Subtotal = $364,500

Grand Total All Awards = $3,824,428

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Regulation of Germ Cell Fate During Embryogenesis

Award Number: R37HD037047

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/01/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2025

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer