Article
Cell Biology
Raquel Perez-Palacios, Maria Climent, Javier Santiago-Arcos, Sofia Macias-Redondo, Martin Klar, Pedro Muniesa, Jon Schoorlemmer
Summary: YY2, a mammalian-specific transcription factor, is expressed during mouse preimplantation development but its presence seems to be dispensable until the blastocyst stage in vitro. Depletion of Yy2 in mESCs results in increased levels of Zscan4 expression but does not affect the expression of TEs or other pluripotency markers.
Article
Biology
Shunya Ihashi, Mizuto Hamanaka, Masaya Kaji, Ryunosuke Mori, Shuntaro Nishizaki, Miki Mori, Yuma Imasato, Kimiko Inoue, Shogo Matoba, Narumi Ogonuki, Atsushi Takasu, Misaki Nakamura, Kazuya Matsumoto, Masayuki Anzai, Atsuo Ogura, Masahito Ikawa, Kei Miyamoto
Summary: By using siRNA screening, researchers found that knocking out Alyref and Gabpb1 genes resulted in early developmental arrest in mice, with Alyref regulating Nanog for proper inner cell mass formation and Gabpb1 deficiency leading to apoptosis. Supplementing Alyref and Gabpb1 mRNA supported the preimplantation development of cloned embryos. The study suggests that the H3K9me3-repressed genes contain developmentally required genes, and the incomplete activation of these genes leads to the preimplantation arrest of cloned embryos.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Zhiyuan Chen, Mohamed Nadhir Djekidel, Yi Zhang
Summary: In mouse preimplantation embryos, H2AK119ub1 and H3K27me3 have distinct genome-wide dynamics. Loss of H2AK119ub1 results in premature activation of developmental genes, while loss of H3K27me3 does not.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Seung-Jae Lee, Jaehwan Kim, Gwidong Han, Seung-Pyo Hong, Dayeon Kim, Chunghee Cho
Summary: In this study, the researchers found that the E3 ubiquitin ligase LNX2 plays an important role in early embryonic development by regulating Notch signaling through the degradation of NUMB protein. Knockdown of LNX2 resulted in the majority of embryos failing to develop into normal blastocysts and increased expression levels of genes involved in cell lineage specification. These findings suggest that LNX2 may be involved in transcriptionally regulating various genes implicated in early embryonic development and may act via lineage specification of the inner cell mass.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
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)
Review
Developmental Biology
Franchesca D. Houghton
Summary: The development of preimplantation embryos relies on various nutrients in the reproductive tract, including oxygen which plays a crucial role in cellular physiology. Inadequate oxygen triggers a hypoxic response leading to a switch to glycolytic metabolism in cells, with ongoing debate about the optimal oxygen tension for embryo culture. Research using human embryonic stem cells can help understand the benefits of culturing embryos under physiological oxygen tensions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yingbing Zhang, Ying Yang, Peipei Qiao, Xiyue Wang, Ruiluan Yu, Hongzheng Sun, Xupeng Xing, Yong Zhang, Jianmin Su
Summary: This study demonstrates the significant roles of CHAF1b in preimplantation embryos, possibly through regulating epigenetic modifications and lineage specification.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Alexandra Spirkova, Veronika Kovarikova, Zuzana Sefcikova, Jozef Pisko, Martina Ksinanova, Juraj Koppel, Dusan Fabian, Stefan Cikos
Summary: The study reveals that glutamic acid can affect preimplantation embryo development through cell membrane receptors. High extracellular concentrations of glutamic acid can inhibit blastocyst development, which is of practical significance.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yunhao Wang, Yanjiao Li, Trine Skuland, Chengjie Zhou, Aifu Li, Adnan Hashim, Ingunn Jermstad, Shaista Khan, Knut Tomas Dalen, Gareth D. D. Greggains, Arne Klungland, John Arne Dahl, Kin Fai Au
Summary: The authors used low-input methyl RNA immunoprecipitation and sequencing to map the N-6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) landscape during mouse oocyte and early embryo development. They found that retrotransposon-derived RNAs and genes involved in the maternal-to-zygotic transition are often marked by m(6)A. By applying this low-input method, they were able to define the m(6)A landscape during the maternal-to-zygotic transition, including the stage-specific expression of transcription factors that are essential for cell fate determination.
NATURE STRUCTURAL & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Masatoshi Ooga, Yasuyuki Kikuchi, Daiyu Ito, Kousuke Kazama, Rei Inoue, Mizuki Sakamoto, Sayaka Wakayama, Teruhiko Wakayama
Summary: Round spermatid injection (ROSI) is a last resort for men with nonobstructive azoospermia. However, ROSI has lower success rates compared to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This study explored histone modifications and found abnormalities in H3K36me3 in ROSI-zygotes. Treatment with TSA showed effectiveness in correcting epigenetic abnormalities.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yasuyuki Kikuchi, Daiyu Ito, Sayaka Wakayama, Masatoshi Ooga, Teruhiko Wakayama
Summary: A new time-lapse observation system for preimplantation embryos was developed in this study, using a simple culture method and a glass capillary. The system allows the observation of mammalian preimplantation embryos without the need for expensive equipment and advanced techniques. The results confirmed that the developmental speed and quality of the embryos were not affected.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Diane Pelzer, Ludmilla de Plater, Peta Bradbury, Adrien Eichmuller, Anne Bourdais, Guillaume Halet, Jean-Leon Maitre
Summary: Cell fragmentation is a common phenomenon in human preimplantation embryos and is associated with poor prognosis during assisted reproductive technology procedures. This study uses light sheet microscopy imaging to reveal that inefficient chromosome separation due to spindle defects, caused by dysfunctional molecular motors Myo1c or dynein, leads to cell fragmentation during mitosis. The extended exposure of the cell cortex to chromosomes triggers actomyosin contractility and pinches off cell fragments, similar to the process observed during meiosis. This study uncovers the mechanisms underlying cell fragmentation in preimplantation embryos and provides insight into the regulation of mitosis during the maternal-zygotic transition.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ozge Ozguc, Ludmilla de Plater, Varun Kapoor, Anna Francesca Tortorelli, Andrew G. Clark, Jean-Leon Maitre
Summary: Actomyosin contractility is a major driving force of preimplantation morphogenesis in mouse embryonic development. The appearance of periodic cortical waves of contraction (PeCoWaCo) marks the activation of contractility, which gradually increases in frequency during successive cleavage divisions. The reduction in cell size caused by cleavage divisions does not explain the presence of PeCoWaCo or their accelerating rhythm. Instead, we find that blastomeres gradually decrease their surface tensions until the 8-cell stage, and artificially softening cells enhances PeCoWaCo prematurely. The down-regulation of formin Fmnl3 is identified as a required event to soften the cortex and expose PeCoWaCo, awakening zygotic contractility before preimplantation morphogenesis.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Xiangnan Li, Yueshi Liu, Qier Mu, Junliang Tian, Haiquan Yu
Summary: The miR-290 family plays a critical role in zygotic genome activation by directly targeting the 3'-UTR of p21 mRNA.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Yan Shi, Panpan Zhao, Yanna Dang, Shuang Li, Lei Luo, Bingjie Hu, Shaohua Wang, Huanan Wang, Kun Zhang
Summary: The chromatin remodeler SMARCA5 plays a critical role in preimplantation development in mice and cattle, with species-specific effects. It is universally expressed during oocyte maturation and early development, but its functional role and patterns vary among different species.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Guangyin Xi, Lei An, Zhenwei Jia, Kun Tan, Jiaxin Zhang, Zhuqing Wang, Chao Zhang, Kai Miao, Zhonghong Wu, Jianhui Tian
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Madhuvanthi Ramaiah, Kun Tan, Terra-Dawn M. Plank, Hye-Won Song, Jennifer N. Dumdie, Samantha Jones, Eleen Y. Shum, Steven D. Sheridan, Kevin J. Peterson, Joerg Gromoll, Stephen J. Haggarty, Heidi Cook-Andersen, Miles F. Wilkinson
Editorial Material
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Kun Tan, Miles F. Wilkinson
Article
Cell Biology
Abhishek Sohni, Kun Tan, Hye-Won Song, Dana Burow, Dirk G. de Rooij, Louise Laurent, Tung-Chin Hsieh, Raja Rabah, Saher Sue Hammoud, Elena Vicini, Miles F. Wilkinson
Article
Developmental Biology
Kun Tan, Hye-Won Song, Miles F. Wilkinson
Letter
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Madhuvanthi Ramaiah, Kun Tan, Terra-Dawn M. Plank, Hye-Won Song, Jennifer N. Chousal, Samantha Jones, Eleen Y. Shum, Steven D. Sheridan, Kevin J. Peterson, Joerg Gromoll, Stephen J. Haggarty, Heidi Cook-Andersen, Miles F. Wilkinson
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kun Tan, Hye-Won Song, Merlin Thompson, Sarah Munyoki, Meena Sukhwani, Tung-Chin Hsieh, Kyle E. Orwig, Miles F. Wilkinson
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2020)
Article
Biology
Kun Tan, Samantha H. Jones, Blue B. Lake, Jennifer N. Dumdie, Eleen Y. Shum, Lingjuan Zhang, Song Chen, Abhishek Sohni, Shivam Pandya, Richard L. Gallo, Kun Zhang, Heidi Cook-Andersen, Miles F. Wilkinson
Review
Cell Biology
Kun Tan, Miles F. Wilkinson
CURRENT OPINION IN CELL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kun Tan, Matthew E. Kim, Hye-Won Song, David Skarbrevik, Eric Babajanian, Tracy A. Bedrosian, Fred H. Gage, Miles F. Wilkinson
Summary: The study reveals that transcription factors encoded by a rapidly evolving X-linked gene cluster can suppress LINE1 transposition in the male germline, protecting against activation of LINE1. RHOX10 suppresses LINE1 transposition by inducing Piwil2, while loss of RHOXF2 may cause infertility by allowing uncontrolled LINE1 expression.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Kun Tan, Hye-Won Song, Miles F. Wilkinson
Summary: The generation of mouse Spermatogonial Stem Cells (SSCs) is driven by a transcription factor (TF) cascade controlled by the homeobox protein, RHOX10. This cascade involves the differentiation of SSC precursors and the identification of RHOX10-regulated genes associated with SSC development. The study provides important insights into germ cell development and how transcription factor cascades are defined.
Article
Developmental Biology
Jennifer N. Chousal, Abhishek Sohni, Kristoffer Vitting-Seerup, Kyucheol Cho, Matthew Kim, Kun Tan, Bo Porse, Miles F. Wilkinson, Heidi Cook-Andersen
Summary: Nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD) is a highly conserved RNA turnover pathway. In mouse blastocysts, the core NMD factor UPF2 is required for expansion of epiblast cells, indicating the essential role of NMD in embryonic cell proliferation and survival.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tiina Lehtiniemi, Matthieu Bourgery, Lin Ma, Ammar Ahmedani, Margareeta Makela, Juho Asteljoki, Opeyemi Olotu, Samuli Laasanen, Fu-Ping Zhang, Kun Tan, Jennifer N. Chousal, Dana Burow, Satu Koskinen, Asta Laiho, Laura L. Elo, Frederic Chalmel, Miles F. Wilkinson, Noora Kotaja
Summary: This study demonstrates that SMG6 is essential for male germ cell differentiation in mice, and its loss leads to transcriptome misregulation and arrest of spermatogenesis. SMG6 is enriched in the chromatoid body and may function together with the piRNA pathway to co-regulate genes in round spermatids.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Kun Tan, Dwayne G. Stupack, Miles F. Wilkinson
Summary: Nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD) is a highly conserved RNA turnover pathway that selectively degrades RNAs harboring truncating mutations, which can affect the expression of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes. NMD may have a dual role in tumors, as it can promote tumor growth by downregulating the expression of tumor suppressor genes and degrade immunogenic neoantigen peptides, but it can also suppress tumor generation and progression by degrading specific normal mRNAs and non-coding RNAs beneficial for tumors. NMD-modulatory therapy has the potential to provide widespread therapeutic benefit against diverse tumor types, but careful analysis is needed to determine whether NMD should be stimulated or repressed in specific tumors.
NATURE REVIEWS CANCER
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Urology & Nephrology
Kun Tan, Hye-Won Song, Merlin Thompson, Sarah Munyoki, Meena Sukhwani, Tung-Chin Hsieh, Kyle Orwig, Miles Wilkinson
JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
(2020)