Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42533095›Full record

ArticleCell research2026

TRIM37 interacts with TRIM28 to maintain primordial germ cell identity during migration.

Qing Li, Xidi Yin, Chuanyin Li, Li Guo, Yingyi Wang, Yanbo Cheng, Nan Liu, Qi Yin, Yifu Ding, Meng Yan and 14 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Cell research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

24 authors.

Qing Li *Key Laboratory of Multi-Cell Systems, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China. liqing2015@sibcb.ac.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6392-9699
Xidi Yin *Key Laboratory of Multi-Cell Systems, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Chuanyin Li *Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Province, China), the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Li Guo *School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Yingyi WangSchool of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Yanbo ChengSchool of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Nan LiuKey Laboratory of Multi-Cell Systems, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Qi YinKey Laboratory of Multi-Cell Systems, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Yifu DingKey Laboratory of Multi-Cell Systems, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Meng YanKey Laboratory of Multi-Cell Systems, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9489-0029
Zihan LiuSchool of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Junyu ChenGMU-GIBH Joint School of Life Sciences, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Jin ZhangCenter for Regeneration and Cell Therapy of Zhejiang University, Center for Reproductive Medicine of The Second Affiliated Hospital, University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Shuo HuangSchool of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Wangpeng GuKey Laboratory of Multi-Cell Systems, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Anjing GuoDepartment of Histoembryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Huanhuan DengSchool of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Yuanyuan LiKey Laboratory of Multi-Cell Systems, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Di ChenCenter for Regeneration and Cell Therapy of Zhejiang University, Center for Reproductive Medicine of The Second Affiliated Hospital, University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9451-9721
Ian ChambersInstitute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2605-1597
Hui ZhengSchool of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China. zhenghui@shanghaitech.edu.cn.
Ronggui HuDepartment of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Province, China), the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. coryhu@zju.edu.cn.
Man ZhangGMU-GIBH Joint School of Life Sciences, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. zhang_man@gzlab.ac.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4704-4356
Jinsong LiKey Laboratory of Multi-Cell Systems, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China. jsli@sibcb.ac.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3456-662X

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 32030029National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 32293231National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 32370909National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 32488101
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

During primordial germ cell (PGC) specification, repression of somatic programs is essential for the establishment of germline identity. However, mechanisms that safeguard PGC fate thereafter remain unknown. Here, we identify the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM37 as a critical safeguard of PGC fate during migration. Trim37 deficiency causes severe PGC defects beginning at embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5) with complete PGC depletion by E12.5, and leads to an aberrant transition toward somatic cell states. Mechanistically, TRIM37 binds TRIM28 through its MATH domain and ubiquitinates TRIM28 via its RING domain, enhancing the TRIM37-TRIM28 interaction and promoting the nuclear retention of TRIM37. Forced nuclear export of TRIM37 results in PGC loss. Moreover, disruption of TRIM37 ligase activity or mutation of TRIM28 ubiquitination sites compromises PGC maintenance. We further show that the TRIM37-TRIM28 complex, likely acting in cooperation with AP2γ, restricts chromatin accessibility and H3K27ac levels at somatic gene loci, thereby repressing somatic transcriptional programs in PGCs. Together, our findings uncover a TRIM37-TRIM28-AP2γ regulatory complex that safeguards germ cell fate by preventing the activation of somatic transcriptional programs during PGC migration.

Identifiers

PMID42533095

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