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Decrease in DNA methylase activity during preimplantation development in the mouse.

M Monk1, R L Adams, A Rinaldi

  • 1MRC Mammalian Development Unit, London, UK.

Development (Cambridge, England)
|May 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary
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Early mouse development involves significant DNA methylation changes. A microassay revealed high maternal DNA methyltransferase activity in eggs, stable through early divisions, but sharply declining by the blastocyst stage.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Early mouse development is characterized by dynamic alterations in DNA methylation patterns.
  • DNA methyltransferase (methylase) activity is crucial for maintaining these methylation patterns.
  • Understanding the temporal regulation of methylase is key to deciphering developmental epigenetic reprogramming.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the activity levels of DNA methyltransferase during preimplantation mouse development.
  • To determine the stability and source of methylase activity in early embryos.

Main Methods:

  • A sensitive microassay was employed to quantify methylase activity.
  • Enzyme activity was measured in mouse eggs and embryos at various cleavage stages (up to blastocyst).

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Main Results:

  • Maternally inherited DNA methyltransferase activity was found to be exceptionally high in the unfertilized egg.
  • This high enzyme activity remained stable through the first three cell divisions.
  • A significant and complete reduction in methylase activity was observed between the 8-cell stage and the blastocyst stage.

Conclusions:

  • The maternal DNA methyltransferase enzyme is present at high levels and is stable during the initial stages of mouse embryogenesis.
  • A critical decrease in DNA methyltransferase activity occurs during the transition from the 8-cell stage to the blastocyst stage, potentially influencing large-scale epigenetic changes.