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Negative Regulator Molecules

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Quantitative Analysis of Protein Expression to Study Lineage Specification in Mouse Preimplantation Embryos
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Quantitative Analysis of Protein Expression to Study Lineage Specification in Mouse Preimplantation Embryos

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THAP1 is a maternal effect factor required for the first cell cycle via Rrm1 in early mouse embryos.

Qiang Fan1,2, Xi Wu1,2,3, Yanna Dang1,2

  • 1Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.

EMBO Reports
|February 23, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Thanatos-associated protein 1 (Thap1) is a maternal effect gene crucial for early mammalian embryo development. Its absence causes developmental arrest and infertility by impairing zygotic genome activation and deoxynucleotide triphosphate levels.

Keywords:
Cell CycleMEGRRM1THAP1dNTP

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • Maternal effect genes (MEGs) are essential for early embryonic development, producing factors stored in oocytes.
  • Most known mammalian MEGs encode epigenetic regulators or RNA-binding proteins.
  • Disruptions in MEGs are linked to reproductive and congenital disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel maternal effect genes involved in early mammalian development.
  • To investigate the role of the transcription factor Thanatos-associated protein 1 (Thap1) as a maternal effect gene.

Main Methods:

  • Oocyte-specific gene deletion using mouse models.
  • Analysis of early embryonic development and progression (1-cell to 2-cell stage).
  • Assessment of zygotic genome activation (ZGA).
  • Low-input metabolome profiling to measure deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP) levels.
  • Gene rescue experiments via overexpression of Rrm1.

Main Results:

  • Oocyte-specific deletion of Thap1 led to delayed embryonic progression and 1-2-cell arrest.
  • Thap1 deficiency impaired zygotic genome activation (ZGA) and female fertility.
  • THAP1 regulates key genes, including Rrm1, essential for dNTP synthesis.
  • THAP1-dependent dNTP accumulation was observed during the oocyte-to-embryo transition.
  • Rrm1 overexpression rescued developmental defects in Thap1-deficient embryos.

Conclusions:

  • THAP1 is identified as a critical maternal effect gene essential for mammalian oocyte function and early embryogenesis.
  • THAP1 regulates dNTP levels via Rrm1, which is vital for successful zygotic genome activation and development.
  • This study highlights THAP1's indispensable role in the maternal control of early embryonic development.