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Quantitative Analysis of Protein Expression to Study Lineage Specification in Mouse Preimplantation Embryos
Published on: February 22, 2016
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Oct-3 is a maternal factor required for the first mouse embryonic division.
M H Rosner1, R J De Santo, H Arnheiter
1Metabolism Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Cell
|March 22, 1991
Summary
Maternally inherited Oct-3 (octamer-binding transcription factor 3) is crucial for early mouse embryo development. Its absence prevents DNA replication and cell division in one-cell embryos, halting development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Oct-3 is a POU domain transcription factor binding the octamer DNA motif.
- Oct-3 is present in mouse oocytes before and after fertilization.
- Early embryonic development relies on factors inherited from the oocyte.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Oct-3 in early mouse embryonic development.
- To determine if Oct-3 is essential for DNA replication and cell division in one-cell embryos.
Main Methods:
- Injection of fertilized mouse oocytes with antisense Oct-3 oligonucleotides or double-stranded DNA containing the octamer motif.
- Assessment of embryonic DNA synthesis and developmental progression.
- Rescue experiments using in vitro synthesized Oct-3 mRNA.
Main Results:
- Antisense Oct-3 oligonucleotides or octamer motif DNA inhibited embryonic DNA synthesis.
- Embryos were arrested at the one-cell stage following Oct-3 inhibition.
- In vitro synthesized Oct-3 mRNA successfully rescued the developmental block.
Conclusions:
- Maternally inherited Oct-3 is essential for DNA replication in one-cell mouse embryos.
- Oct-3 is required for the first embryonic cell division.
- The function of Oct-3 is critical for initiating embryonic development post-fertilization.
