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Determining the Role of Maternally-Expressed Genes in Early Development with Maternal Crispants
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SETD2 regulates the maternal epigenome, genomic imprinting and embryonic development
Qianhua Xu1, Yunlong Xiang1, Qiujun Wang1
1Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, THU-PKU Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Nature Genetics
|May 2, 2019
Summary
The histone methyltransferase SETD2 is essential for establishing the maternal epigenome in mouse oocytes. Its absence causes epigenetic defects, leading to developmental arrest and embryonic lethality.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The maternal epigenome is critical for mammalian development.
- Mechanisms establishing the oocyte epigenome are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of histone-lysine N-methyltransferase SETD2 in establishing the mouse oocyte epigenome.
- To elucidate the impact of SETD2 deficiency on oocyte development and early embryogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of histone modifications (H3K36me3, H3K4me3, H3K27me3) in Setd2-deficient oocytes.
- DNA methylation analysis.
- Assessment of oocyte maturation and fertilization.
- Embryo development assays.
- Rescue experiments using normal oocyte cytosol.
Main Results:
- SETD2 deficiency caused loss of H3K36me3 and aberrant DNA methylation.
- H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 invaded H3K36me3-marked regions.
- Oocytes lacking SETD2 showed maturation defects and fertilization arrest.
- Preimplantation development was rescued by normal oocyte cytosol, but chromatin defects persisted, causing post-implantation lethality.
Conclusions:
- SETD2 is a key regulator of the mouse oocyte epigenome.
- The maternal epigenome established by SETD2 is essential for embryonic development.
- SETD2 deficiency leads to both cytosolic and chromatin defects impacting embryogenesis.
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