Interaction between DMRT1 function and genetic background modulates signaling and pluripotency to control tumor susceptibility in the fetal germ line

► Dmrt1 mutant mice develop testicular teratomas only on the 129Sv strain background. ► mRNA profiling reveals strain-dependent transcriptional responses to loss of Dmrt1. ► Dmrt1 regulates pluripotency and signaling pathways including Nodal, Notch, and Gdnf. ► The GDNF coreceptor Gfra1 regulates teratoma susceptibility. ► Dmrt1 genetically interacts with the germ cell RNA regulator Nanos3.