Vasa gene

vasa is an RNA binding protein with an RNA dependant helicase. The vasa gene, is essential for germ cell development and was first identified in Drosophila melanogaster. It is homologous to a DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp)-family protein in the mouse.

Expression
In Drosophila, vasa expression is seen in germ cells, specifically the germline stem cells (GSC's) of female ovaries and in the early stages of spermatogensis in the male testis.

Staining
Due to the localization of vasa, immunohistochemistry staining can be done with vasa antibodies. For example, vasa antibody staining is specific for germline stem cells in the D. melanogaster germarium.

Drosophila melanogaster
In early embryogenesis, vasa is involved in abdomen development, nanos mRNA translation, and pole plasm and germ cell formation. In oogenesis, vasa is involved in germline cyst development, oocyte differentiation, gurken mRNA translation, oocyte polarity and translation of oskar mRNA.