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Chromatin Spread Preparations for the Analysis of Mouse Oocyte Progression from Prophase to Metaphase II
Published on: February 26, 2018
TBP dynamics during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation and early embryo development
Shao-Chen Sun1, Xu-Guang Wang, Xue-Shan Ma
1College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
Plos One
|February 6, 2013
Summary
TATA-binding protein (TBP) is crucial for transmitting cellular memory. This study tracked exogenous TBP in mouse oocytes and embryos, finding it associates with chromosomes during early development, but overexpression disrupts maturation.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Cell lineage requires transmitting gene activity information to daughter cells.
- TATA-binding protein (TBP) acts as a bookmark for cellular memory during mitosis.
- Previous studies indicated TBP is dispensable for mouse oocyte maturation, yet it's detected in oocytes and early embryos.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the dynamics and localization of exogenous TBP in mouse oocytes and early embryos.
- Determine if TBP associates with condensed chromosomes during meiosis and early development.
- Explore the role of TBP in oocyte maturation and embryo development.
Main Methods:
- Injection of GFP-tagged TBP mRNA into mouse oocytes.
- Nuclear transfer experiments to assess TBP removal by oocytes.
- Microscopy to track TBP localization during oocyte maturation and early embryonic stages (zygote, 2-cell, blastocyst).
Main Results:
- Exogenous TBP enriched at the germinal vesicle but disappeared after germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD).
- Oocytes removed exogenous TBP from donor nuclei during nuclear transfer.
- TBP was removed from M phase zygote chromosomes but weakly expressed at the M phase of 2-cell and blastocyst stages.
- Overexpression of TBP led to failed oocyte maturation and embryo development.
Conclusions:
- TBP associates with chromosomes during specific stages of mouse early development.
- Oocytes possess a mechanism to remove TBP from chromosomes.
- TBP dynamics suggest a potential role as a marker for transmitting cellular memory.
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