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Manipulation and In Vitro Maturation of Xenopus laevis Oocytes, Followed by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, to Study Embryonic Development
Published on: February 9, 2015
Epigenetics in fertilization and preimplantation embryo development.
Rocio Melissa Rivera1, Jason Wayne Ross
1Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 164 ASRC 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
|March 5, 2013
Summary
Mammalian embryonic development requires epigenetic reprogramming. Recent studies reveal dynamic changes in DNA methylation and histone modifications during oocyte maturation and preimplantation development, offering insights into this essential process.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Epigenetics
- Genomics
Background:
- Fertilization triggers essential epigenetic reprogramming of parental genomes for embryonic development.
- Asymmetric distribution of histone modifications and DNA methylation levels are observed in mammalian zygotes and early embryos.
- Rapid paternal genome demethylation in oocytes suggests a DNA demethylase, though none has been identified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on the dynamic epigenetic landscape during mammalian oocyte maturation and preimplantation development.
- To explore the mechanisms underlying global DNA demethylation in early mammalian embryos.
- To discuss the role of small RNAs and maternal transcripts in epigenetic regulation.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing scientific literature and recent research findings.
- Analysis of data concerning DNA methylation patterns and histone modifications.
- Examination of the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) and 3' untranslated regions of maternal transcripts.
Main Results:
- Global demethylation of the mammalian preimplantation embryo genome occurs.
- Recent research provides partial explanations for the mechanisms of this demethylation.
- Small RNAs, including miRNAs, are produced during oocyte development, but their activity may be limited in mature oocytes.
- Maternal transcript signatures influence mRNA stability during the transcriptionally quiescent period.
Conclusions:
- The dynamic epigenetic landscape during oocyte maturation and preimplantation development is crucial for mammalian embryogenesis.
- Understanding these epigenetic changes is key to deciphering early embryonic development.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the roles of DNA demethylation, small RNAs, and maternal factors.
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