Nov. 3, 2009 meeting

Becca from the Matunis lab will be presenting (12:30 in W2303 in the SPH).

Two-step oligoclonal development of male germ cells; PNAS 2009, 106:175-180
Ueno, Turnbull, and Weissman
Weissman lab profile here
Hot off the presses (FYI) - a profile on Weissman in the brand new issue of JCB

Becca's comments on this paper choice -
"This paper uses tetrachimeric mice to mark and study the development of the male germline and finds that the entire lineage is derived from a mere 4 cells. One of my projects is to characterize the primodial germ cell (PGC) to germline stem cell (GSC) transition in Drosophila embryos. It has long been known that, in Drosophila, the number of PGCs initially incorporated into the gonad is greater than the number of GSCs, suggesting that some sort of selection process occurs. This paper suggests that there are parallel themes in mammals, where germ cells that actually contribute to adult spermatogenesis also arise from a smaller, perhaps select few, cells within a pool of potential founder cells."

Oct. 20, 2009 meeting - the Y chromosome makes an appearance

Rachel from the Matunis lab will be presenting at the Oct. 20 meeting (12:30, W2303 in the SPH).

Cell, 2009, 138:855-869
Isodicentric Y chromosomes and Sex Disorders as Byproducts of Homologous Recombination that maintains Palindromes
Lange et al. (David Page lab)

This paper has also gotten a number of highlight write-ups (e.g., The Scientist, ScienceDaily). Since the RBJC blog started last year, this will be our first meeting on the Y chromosome and on science related to sex determination pathways (yay for new post labels!). This should be an interesting step back from the biology of the testis (which has been abundantly represented in papers presented) to the biology linked with the very first steps for getting the testis there in the first place. (Thanks, Rachel!)

Post script - Bonus points to Rachel for rallying through a cold, and for finding a comedienne who uses her Turner Syndrome as a focal point for her humor - "Dude, where's my chromosome?" [Who knew???]

Oct. 6, 2009 RBJC meeting

Phylis from the Matunis lab will be presenting (12:30 in Room W2303):

Molecular dissection of the male germ cell lineage identifies a putative spermatogonial stem cells in rhesus macaques
Hermann et al. (Kyle Orwig's lab), Human Reproduction, 2009, 24:1704-1716

Phylis admits that this paper does not relate to her research directly, "but I picked it because it helps shed some light in the characterization of spermatogonial stem cells in primates, in this case the rhesus macaque. Some work has already been done in rodents, goats and dogs in the identification and transplantation of their spermatogonial stem cells. In non-human primates, much remains to be learned." She'll also include a bit about her research on using cell death to disrupt the balance between the cells in the Drosophila testis niche.

Sept. 22 RBJC - cancelled

Our fearless presenter has flu-like symptoms, and the edict is stay home until you're symptom-free for 24 hr. Protecting health, saving lives, millions at a time (or at least the couple dozen he would have exposed at journal club). Stay tuned for details on our October 6 journal club!

RBJC fall 2009 location - Room W2303 in the School of Public Health

See map for the approximate location of Room W2303.

Please be forewarned that there is another group in the room up until 12:30. Given this, whomever is presenting will only be able to get in the room to get set up with the projector right at 12:30, so presentations will probably start ~12.35. But come early and socialize!

September 22, 2009 journal club

And we're off! We will meet Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 12:30 in Room W2303 in the School of Public Health.

Matt Beattie from the Zirkin lab will be presenting:

Zona Occludens-2 Is Critical for Blood-Testis Barrier Integrity and Male Fertility
Xu et al., Mol. Biol. Cell
published as MBC in Press, 10.1091/mbc.E08-12-1236 on August 19, 2009

This isn't really related to Matt's thesis project, but heck, the blood-testis barrier is cool.

Tentative schedule for fall 2009!

Room reservation is still pending -- but here's a "save the date" notice for the following Tuesdays at 12:30 ...

Sept. 22 - Matt Beattie (Zirkin lab)
Oct. 6 - TBD
Oct. 20 - Rachel Stine (Matunis lab)
[paper to be presented Lange et al., 2009, Cell, 138:855]
Nov. 3 - Becca Sheng (Matunis lab)
Nov. 17 - TBD
Dec. 1 - TBD
Dec. 15 - TBD

(And thanks to Matt, Rachel, and Becca for volunteering to go early and help get things rolling!)