[Modifications in major satellite methylation in the nucleus of a two-cell mouse embryo dependent on developmental...

The study of the degree of DNA methylation in the nucleus, in particular of the major satellite in two-cell mouse embryos developing in the maternal organism, in standard cultural media M16 used for cultivation of mouse embryos and M2 media used for manipulations with embryos in the air was conducted. Two-cell embryos nucleus aged 44-46 hours after chorionic hormone injection were investigated. The revealed results are evidence for the dependence of the major satellite Ts methylation level of the developmental conditions of embryos. The methylation level of the nucleus DNA was shown to increase with a deterioration of environmental conditions. It was reported, that in the case of cultivation in M2 media not suitable for long cultivation, the DNA Ts methylation level, MaSat in particular, was higher compared to other embryo groups. Accordingly, not only a significant number of genes but also repeats of satellite DNA are involved in epigenetic regulation.