Article
Cell Biology
Manuel Guthmann, Chen Qian, Irene Gialdini, Tsunetoshi Nakatani, Andreas Ettinger, Tamas Schauer, Igor Kukhtevich, Robert Schneider, Don C. Lamb, Adam Burton, Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla
Summary: In this study, Guthmann et al. demonstrate that pericentromeric heterochromatin undergoes phase separation and transition during early embryonic development in mice. They also show that weak hydrophobic interactions and ATRX recruitment influence the biophysical properties of heterochromatin and chromocenter maturation. These findings provide new insights into the self-organization of chromatin domains during mammalian embryogenesis.
GENES & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Elisa Quiala, Raul Barbon, Saul Mestanza, La O. Mariana, Gardenis Merlan, Jenny Nunez-Ramos, Naivy Perez, Michel Leiva, Elio Jimenez, Dion Daniels, Carlos Noceda
Summary: A protocol for somatic embryogenesis of the natural hybrid of mahogany Swietenia macrophylla King x S. mahagoni (L.) Jacq. was successfully established in this study, opening the possibility for the clonal propagation of selected trees of this natural hybrid. The highest frequency of somatic embryo germination was achieved using a half-strength MS medium supplemented with BA and gibberellic acid, with 25% of plantlets developing normally in the greenhouse. The developed somatic embryos showed different morphological features, demonstrating the potential for clonal propagation and further research in this area.
TREES-STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kanokwan Srirattana, Masahiro Kaneda, Rangsun Parnpai
Summary: This article reviews recent approaches for improving the technical aspects of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and enhancing epigenetic modifications in donor cells, oocytes, and cloned embryos in order to increase cloning efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Pengxiang Qu, Wenbin Cao, Yanru Zhang, Jia Qi, Bin Meng, Shuangqing Liu, Yanxin Zhuang, Chenjin Duan, Enqi Liu
Summary: The study found that sperm proteins significantly improve embryo cloning efficiency, promote normal embryonic development, and increase birth rates.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Erika E. Paulson, Emily L. Fishman, Richard M. Schultz, Pablo J. Ross
Summary: MicroRNAs play a crucial role in preimplantation embryo development, with their expression increasing during the morula and blastocyst stages. Knockdown of DGCR8 inhibits the expression of embryonically expressed miRNAs and the morula-to-blastocyst transition.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Mariana Carolina Fabra, Juan Patricio Anchordoquy, Ana Cristina Carranza-Martin, Nicolas Farnetano, Juan Mateo Anchordoquy, Cecilia Cristina Furnus, Noelia Nikoloff
Summary: In vitro embryo production has great potential for cattle production but the quality of in vitro-produced embryos is lower compared with those produced in vivo. This study investigated the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation in in vitro culture (IVC) medium on bovine embryo development and cryotolerance. The results showed that ALA supplementation improved blastocyst and hatching rates, as well as embryo quality. ALA also reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in warmed blastocysts after vitrification.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Yasumitsu Masuda, Ryo Hasebe, Yasushi Kuromi, Masayoshi Kobayashi, Kanako Urataki, Mitsugu Hishinuma, Tetsuya Ohbayashi, Ryo Nishimura
Summary: The study utilized optical coherence tomography (OCT) to evaluate the quality of bovine preimplantation embryos and found that OCT imaging can be used to select high-quality embryos for transfer. Results suggest that TE volume may be a key parameter for the evaluation of bovine embryos, indicating the potential of OCT in improving embryo selection for successful pregnancies.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marcelo T. Moura, Lais B. Latorraca, Fabiola E. Paula-Lopes
Summary: Mammals have developed mechanisms to cope with environmental stressors throughout their lifespan, including the autophagy pathway, which helps repair damage and reallocates resources for long-term survival. Autophagy plays a key role in mammalian gametogenesis, fertilization, and preimplantation embryonic development, affecting physiological processes and responses to stressors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chuan Zhou, Michelle M. Halstead, Amelie Bonnet-Garnier, Richard M. Schultz, Pablo J. Ross
Summary: Using CUT&Tag, researchers profiled histone modifications in bovine oocytes, embryos, and blastocysts to understand gene expression changes during preimplantation development. They found that broad bivalent domains mark developmental genes in oocytes, and repressive marks H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 are present before embryonic genome activation (EGA), suggesting a global transcription repression mechanism. Chromatin accessibility is established before activating marks H3K4me3 and H3K27ac during EGA. Transcription is required for the remodeling process, indicating the insufficiency of maternal products alone. H3K27me3 plays a major role in cellular potency restriction and blastocyst lineage determination.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Zengyou Ma, Haoyi Zheng, Xiaoping Li, Beibei Yu, Hui Peng
Summary: This study investigates the expression, localization, and function of CSNK1A1 in early embryonic development in mice. CSNK1A1 is expressed in multiple mouse tissues, including the ovary, and its highest expression is observed in two-cell-stage embryos. Inhibition or knockdown of CSNK1A1 leads to a decrease in blastocyst formation and embryonic developmental arrest. These findings provide novel insights into the role of CSNK1A1 in early embryonic development.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Juan P. Cabeza, Juan Camera, Olinda Briski, Minerva Yauri Felipe, Daniel F. Salamone, Andres Gambini
Summary: This study investigates the use of a novel zinc chelator for activating bovine and porcine oocytes. The results show that the zinc chelator can successfully induce blastocyst development in both species, although developmental rates and embryo quality are compromised in bovine compared to calcium-induced embryos. On the contrary, the new concentration and incubation time of the zinc chelator improve developmental rates in porcine without affecting embryo quality. These findings contribute to understanding the role of zinc in oocyte activation and preimplantation embryo development across different mammalian species.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nor-Shahida Abdul Rahman, Nor-Ashikin Mohamed Noor Khan, Zolkapli Eshak, Mimi-Sophia Sarbandi, Aqila-Akmal Mohammad Kamal, Mastura Abd Malek, Fathiah Abdullah, Maizaton Atmadini Abdullah, Fezah Othman
Summary: Studies have shown that L-glutathione (GSH) supplementation can improve preimplantation development of embryos. This study aims to determine whether GSH supplementation in culture media improves in vitro culture and vitrification outcomes, as observed through embryo morphology and preimplantation development. The results indicate that GSH supplementation can enhance blastocyst formation and decrease ROS levels, improving embryonic cryotolerance.
Article
Developmental Biology
Wilhelm Bouchereau, Luc Jouneau, Catherine Archilla, Irene Aksoy, Anais Moulin, Nathalie Daniel, Nathalie Peynot, Sophie Calderari, Thierry Joly, Murielle Godet, Yan Jaszczyszyn, Marine Pratlong, Dany Severac, Pierre Savatier, Veronique Duranthon, Marielle Afanassieff, Nathalie Beaujean
Summary: In this study, a transcriptome analysis was conducted on rabbit preimplantation embryos, revealing common features between the transcriptome of rabbit epiblast cells and humans/non-human primates. Novel markers for deriving naive pluripotent stem cell lines were identified.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aushaq B. Malla, Haoming Yu, Delaney Farris, Srilekha Kadimi, TuKiet T. Lam, Andy L. Cox, Zachary D. Smith, Bluma J. Lesch
Summary: This study reveals that DOT1L plays a crucial role in maintaining pericentromeric heterochromatin and genome stability. By regulating the methylation of H3K79, DOT1L is involved in the transcription of repetitive satellite sequences, thereby stabilizing heterochromatin structures and ensuring preimplantation viability.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiaqiao Zhu, Zhutao Huang, Fan Yang, Min Zhu, Jiangqin Cao, Jiali Chen, Yan Lin, Shuai Guo, Junwei Li, Zongping Liu
Summary: This study demonstrated that maternal cadmium exposure impairs preimplantation embryo development by disturbing epigenetic modification and inducing DNA damage. The exposure to cadmium led to embryo death, fragmentation, and developmental blockade, while affecting histone acetylation and disrupting DNA methylation of H19. Additionally, cadmium increased reactive oxygen species levels and DNA damage, while partly inhibiting gene expression related to DNA repair. Mitochondrial distribution and activity were also increased, contributing to intracellular homeostasis for embryo survival.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)