Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
11:13
Using Mouse Oocytes to Assess Human Gene Function During Meiosis I
Published on: April 10, 2018
Genome plasticity in the mouse oocyte and early embryo
A E Peaston1, B B Knowles, K W Hutchison
1The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA. anne.peaston@jax.org
Biochemical Society Transactions
|May 22, 2007
Summary
Developmentally regulated endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) activate during mammalian oocyte-to-embryo transition. This suggests transposable element expression drives embryonic genome reprogramming.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Developmental Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- The oocyte-to-embryo transition involves complex molecular reprogramming.
- Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are typically epigenetically silenced in mammals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of ERVs in mammalian oocyte-to-embryo transition.
- To explore the hypothesis that ERV expression triggers embryonic genome reprogramming.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of mouse oocyte and two-cell stage embryo cDNA libraries.
- Identification and characterization of developmentally regulated ERV transcripts.
- Investigation of ERV potential as alternative promoters.
Main Results:
- Abundant developmentally regulated ERV transcripts were found in mouse oocytes and early embryos.
- ERVs can function as alternative promoters and first exons for genes, synchronizing expression.
- ERV activation and silencing indicates dynamic epigenetic state changes in the genome.
Conclusions:
- Differential transposable element expression, particularly ERVs, is hypothesized to trigger sequential embryonic genome reprogramming.
- Heritable genetic changes via retrotransposon replication may occur during oocyte and early embryo development.
