Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Euchromatin

Euchromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions take up more dye, appearing darker, while the less-compact areas take up less dye and appear lighter. Based on the compaction level, chromatins are classified into two primary forms – euchromatin and heterochromatin.
Euchromatin is the less dense region of the chromatin and stains lighter. Euchromatin contains histone H3 extensively...

Spreading of Chromatin Modifications

Spreading of Chromatin Modifications

The histone proteins in the nucleosomes are post-translationally modified (PTM) to increase or decrease access to DNA. The commonly observed PTMs are methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination of lysine amino acids in the histone H3 tail region. These histone modifications have specific meaning for the cell. Hence, they are called "histone code". The protein complex involved in histone modification is termed as "reader-writer" complex.
Writers
The writer is an enzyme that can...

Heterochromatin

Heterochromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions that take up more dye are called heterochromatin. Heterochromatin is further classified into two forms – constitutive heterochromatin and facultative heterochromatin.
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at 9th...

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

Epigenetics is the study of inherited changes in a cell's phenotype without changing the DNA sequences. It provides a form of memory for the differential gene expression pattern to maintain cell lineage, position-effect variegation, dosage compensation, and maintenance of chromatin structures such as telomeres and centromeres. For example, the structure and location of the centromere on chromosomes are epigenetically inherited. Its functionality is not dictated or ensured by the underlying DNA...

Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells

Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells

Chromatin modification alters gene expression; therefore, scientists can add histone-modifying enzymes, histone variants, and chromatin remodeling complexes to somatic cells to aid reprogramming into pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...

Histone Modification

Histone Modification

The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Interspecific ICSI for the Assessment of Sperm DNA Damage: Technology Report.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI·2021

Same author

Function of atypical mammalian oocyte/zygote nucleoli and its implications for reproductive biology and medicine.

The International journal of developmental biology·2019

Same author

Nucleoli in embryos: a central structural platform for embryonic chromatin remodeling?

Chromosome research : an international journal on the molecular, supramolecular and evolutionary aspects of chromosome biology·2018

Same author

Can Nucleoli Be Markers of Developmental Potential in Human Zygotes?

Trends in molecular medicine·2015

Same author

The maternal nucleolus plays a key role in centromere satellite maintenance during the oocyte to embryo transition.

Development (Cambridge, England)·2014

Same author

Somatic cell nuclear transfer-derived embryonic stem cell lines in humans: pros and cons.

Cellular reprogramming·2013

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Analysis of Chromosome Segregation, Histone Acetylation, and Spindle Morphology in Horse Oocytes

Analysis of Chromosome Segregation, Histone Acetylation, and Spindle Morphology in Horse Oocytes

Published on: May 11, 2017

Chromatin acetylation in human oocytes.

Alena Langerova¹

¹GENNET, Prague, Czech Republic. aja.langerova@seznam.cz

Ginekologia Polska

|May 25, 2013

Summary

Human oocyte aneuploidy may stem from abnormal histone acetylation. Our study revealed inconsistent acetylation patterns in oocytes, suggesting epigenetic abnormalities and potentially explaining high chromosomal error rates.

Area of Science:

Reproductive Biology
Epigenetics
Cell Biology

Background:

High frequency of aneuploidies in human oocytes is a significant concern.
Abnormal chromatin (histone) acetylation/deacetylation is hypothesized as a potential cause.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze the acetylation/deacetylation patterns in spare human oocytes.
To investigate the link between histone acetylation and oocyte aneuploidy.

Main Methods:

Examined 311 spare human oocytes and control oocytes (bovine, mouse).
Oocytes were fixed with paraformaldehyde.
Antibodies against acetylated histones were used for labeling.

Main Results:

High fluorescence intensity observed for AcH4/K12 and hyperacetylated H4 in immature oocytes.

More Related Videos

Isolation and Characterization of Mouse Antral Oocytes Based on Nucleolar Chromatin Organization

Isolation and Characterization of Mouse Antral Oocytes Based on Nucleolar Chromatin Organization

Published on: January 7, 2016

Chromatin Spread Preparations for the Analysis of Mouse Oocyte Progression from Prophase to Metaphase II

Chromatin Spread Preparations for the Analysis of Mouse Oocyte Progression from Prophase to Metaphase II

Published on: February 26, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 11, 2026

Analysis of Chromosome Segregation, Histone Acetylation, and Spindle Morphology in Horse Oocytes

Analysis of Chromosome Segregation, Histone Acetylation, and Spindle Morphology in Horse Oocytes

Published on: May 11, 2017

Isolation and Characterization of Mouse Antral Oocytes Based on Nucleolar Chromatin Organization

Isolation and Characterization of Mouse Antral Oocytes Based on Nucleolar Chromatin Organization

Published on: January 7, 2016

Chromatin Spread Preparations for the Analysis of Mouse Oocyte Progression from Prophase to Metaphase II

Chromatin Spread Preparations for the Analysis of Mouse Oocyte Progression from Prophase to Metaphase II

Published on: February 26, 2018

Approximately 50% of maturing oocytes showed high fluorescence intensity.

Inconsistent acetylation/deacetylation patterns were detected in human oocytes.

Conclusions:

Inconsistent histone acetylation/deacetylation patterns suggest epigenetic abnormalities in human oocytes.
These abnormalities may indicate that oocytes did not reach the metaphase II stage during follicle aspiration.
The findings may explain the high incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in human oocytes.