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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Visualizing Zygotic Genome Activation In Single Cells of Early Embryos
Published on: April 3, 2026
Zygotic gene activation and maternal factors in mammals
Naojiro Minami1, Toru Suzuki, Satoshi Tsukamoto
1Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. oog1nao@kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
Zygotic gene activation (ZGA) is the first event of gene expression after fertilization. Following fertilization, ZGA occurs within a short time interval depending on the animal species. Until ZGA, maternal proteins and transcripts stored in oocytes control embryonic development, indicating the importance of maternal factors for development. Somatic cell cloning also proves the potential of oocyte to reprogram the differentiated cell nuclei to embryonic nuclei. Recent studies show that the epigenetic modifications of nuclei play important roles in controlling gene expression during ZGA. However, the mechanisms that control ZGA remain largely unknown. This review will cover the current understanding of ZGA. Specifically, it will focus on the maternal factors that control gene expression during early embryogenesis.
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