Study demonstrate that the attractive signal downstream of Hmgcr is cell-contact independent and acts at long range the extent of which depends on Hmgcr levels. This range would be sufficient to reach all of the germ cells for their entire migration. Furthermore Hmgcr-mediated attraction does not require Wunens but can operate simultaneously with Wunen-mediated repulsion.
The specificity and evolutionary conservation of the HMGCoAr pathway for germ cells suggest that an attractant common to invertebrates and vertebrates guides germ cells in early embryos.
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