Nanos1, also known as NOS1, is a 292 amino acid protein that localizes to the perinuclear region of the cytoplasm and contains one nanos-type zinc finger. Expressed at high levels in spermatogonia and present at lower levels in fetal ovaries, Nanos1 forms a complex with Pumilio 2 and functions to regulate the translation of select mRNAs, specifically via association with the 3-UTR of its mRNA targets. Additionally, Nanos1 is required for the establishment and maintenance of germline stem cells, as it prevents their premature entry into oogenesis.
