Folliculogenesis-specific basic helix-loop-helix, also known as factor in the germline alpha (FIGalpha) or transcription factor FIGa, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FIGLA gene.^[5][6] The FIGLA gene is a germ cell-specific transcription factor preferentially expressed in oocytes that can be found on human chromosome 2p13.3.

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FIGLA
Identifiers
Aliases	FIGLA, BHLHC8, FIGALPHA, POF6, folliculogenesis specific bHLH transcription factor
External IDs	OMIM: 608697 MGI: 1349421 HomoloGene: 49294 GeneCards: FIGLA
Gene location (Human) Chr. Chromosome 2 (human)[1] Band 2p13.3 Start 70,777,310 bp[1] End 70,790,643 bp[1]
Gene location (Mouse) Chr. Chromosome 6 (mouse)[2] Band 6|6 C3 Start 85,993,153 bp[2] End 85,997,978 bp[2]
RNA expression pattern Bgee Human Mouse (ortholog) Top expressed in oocyte secondary oocyte body of pancreas gastric mucosa myometrium abdominal wall mammary gland breast monocyte fundus Top expressed in secondary oocyte lens spermatid spermatocyte testicle ganglionic eminence superior frontal gyrus More reference expression data BioGPS n/a
Gene ontology Molecular function RNA polymerase II cis-regulatory region sequence-specific DNA binding sequence-specific DNA binding DNA binding DNA-binding transcription activator activity, RNA polymerase II-specific transcription factor binding protein dimerization activity DNA-binding transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II-specific Cellular component nucleus transcription regulator complex Biological process multicellular organism development cell differentiation regulation of transcription, DNA-templated transcription by RNA polymerase II transcription, DNA-templated positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II oocyte development oogenesis Sources:Amigo / QuickGO
Orthologs Species Human Mouse Entrez 344018 26910 Ensembl ENSG00000183733 ENSMUSG00000030001 UniProt Q6QHK4 O55208 RefSeq (mRNA) NM_001004311 NM_012013 RefSeq (protein) NP_001004311 NP_036143 Location (UCSC) Chr 2: 70.78 – 70.79 Mb Chr 6: 85.99 – 86 Mb PubMed search [3] [4]
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This gene encodes a protein that functions in postnatal oocyte-specific gene expression. The protein is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that regulates multiple oocyte-specific genes, including genes involved in folliculogenesis, oocyte differentiation, and those that encode the zona pellucida.^[5] FIGLA is related to the zona pellucida genes ZP1, ZP2, and ZP3.

Mutation in the FIGLA gene are associated with premature ovarian failure.^[7] Premature ovarian failure is a genetic disorder that leads to hypergonadotropic ovarian failure and infertility. It is believed that premature ovarian failure in humans is caused by FIGLA haploninsuffciency, which disrupts the formation of the primordial follicles.^[7][8] This was observed in FIGLA mice knockouts which had diminished follicular endowment and accelerated oocyte loss throughout their reproductive life span.^[7][8] Women with mutations in their FIGLA were shown to have a form of premature ovarian failure.^[7][8] As well as the failure to form primordial follicles, knockout mice also lacked zona pellucida genes Zp1, Zp2, and ZP3 expression.^[8]