Figure 7

A graphic summary of the role of pld6 in germ cell development. During zebrafish sex differentiation, Pld6 regulates the mitochondrial fusion and fission in germ cells, leading to the sufficiency of energy supply and the stabilization of piRNA biosynthesis. In wildtype, pld6 safeguards the health of mitochondria and facilitates the generation of sufficient mitochondria in GSPCs thus promotes the differentiation of juvenile gonads and the maturation of ovary and testis. In mutant, loss of pld6 leads to the scanty amount and dysfunctional mitochondria in GSPCs, further leads to the germ cell apoptosis, and arrest of meiosis and proliferation during gonad differentiation. Therefore, a GSPCs‐specific pld6 mediate‐mitochondrial fusion and piRNA biogenesis promotes survival, proliferation, and differentiation of GSPCs.