Table 1.

RNA components of germ plasm in zebrafish

RNA	Product	Functions	References
ca15b	Carbonic anhydrase 15b	Elevates pH to maintain polarity of migrating PGCs	(Hartwig et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2013)
dnd1	DND microRNA-mediated repression inhibitor 1	Binds target mRNA to prevent miRNA-mediated repression; controls actomyosin contractility, cell cortex rigidity, & cell-cell adhesion for PGC migration; inhibits miR-430 and somatic differentiation	(Goudarzi et al., 2012; Gross-Thebing et al., 2017; Weidinger et al., 2003)
gra	Granulito	Unknown; no knockdown phenotype; predicted negative regulator of translation initiation	(Strasser et al., 2008)
hook2	Hook microtubule-tethering protein 2	Binds to & promotes dynein-dynactin assembly during mitosis; regulates microtubule nucleation at the centrosome	(Dwivedi et al., 2019; Roovers et al., 2018)
miR-202-5p	microRNA 202-5p	PGC migration; KO phenotype in Medaka = significantly decreased fertility, dysregulation of key ovarian genes, & impaired egg production	(Gay et al., 2018; Jin et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2017)
nanos3	Nanos homolog 3	RNA-binding zinc finger protein; migration & survival of PGCs; maintenance of germline stem cells	(Beer & Draper, 2013; Köprunner et al., 2001)
kop	Askopos	unknown; no knockdown phenotype; potential member of S100 protein-binding protein family	(Blaser et al., 2005)
rgs14a	Regulator of G-protein signaling 14a	Controls onset of PGC migration, polar protrusion formation, & E-cadherin expression	(Hartwig et al., 2014)
tdrd7a	Tudor domain containing 7a	Impacts germ granule size; germ cell differentiation; predicted RNA binding & translation regulator; predicted necessary for spermatogenesis	(D’Orazio et al., 2021; Mishima et al., 2006)
vasa/ddx4	Dead box polypeptide 4	Likely ATP-dependent DEAD box helicase; germ cell differentiation & maintenance	(Hartung et al., 2014; Olsen et al., 1997; Yoon et al., 1997)
celf1/brul	Cugbp, Elav-like family member 1; bruno-like	RNA-binding protein; post-transcriptionally regulates genes necessary for embryonic patterning; necessary for organogenesis of endoderm-derived tissues	(Hashimoto et al., 2004; Suzuki et al., 2000)
dazl	Deleted in azoospermia-like	RNA-binding protein (GUUC); controls polyA tail length; predicted association with polysomes & translation promotion; germline stem cell specification	(Bertho et al., 2021; Hashimoto et al., 2004; Maegawa et al., 2002; Takeda et al., 2009)