The protein encoded by the germ plasm RNA Germes associates with dynein light chains and functions in Xenopus germline development.

Germ plasm plays a prominent role in germline formation in a large number of animal taxons. We previously identified a novel maternal RNA named Germes associated with Xenopus germ plasm. In the present work, we addressed possible involvement of Germes protein in germ plasm function.

Gastrulation in amphibian embryos, regarded as a succession of biomechanical feedback events.

Gastrulation in amphibian embryos is a composition of several differently located morphogenetic movements which are perfectly coordinated with each other both in space and time. We hypothesize that this coordination is mediated by biomechanical interactions between different parts of a gastrulating embryo based upon the tendency of each part to hyper-restore the value of its mechanical stress. The entire process of gastrulation in amphibian embryos is considered as a chain of these mutually coupled reactions, which are largely dependent upon the geometry of a given embryo part.

Xenopus Germes encodes a novel germ plasm-associated transcript.

A cDNA tag specific for the vegetal pole of early Xenopus embryo was used to isolate a novel cDNA using RACE technique. The corresponding mRNA demonstrated a localization pattern typical for the germ plasm-associated messages, and was, therefore, named Germes. The open reading frame of Germes encodes a predicted 68 kDa protein with two leucine zipper motifs and a putative EF-hand domain, but otherwise no substantial homology to known proteins.