1
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Han Q, Ma R, Liu N. Epigenetic reprogramming in the transition from pluripotency to totipotency. J Cell Physiol 2024; 239:e31222. [PMID: 38375873 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian development commences with the zygote, which can differentiate into both embryonic and extraembryonic tissues, a capability known as totipotency. Only the zygote and embryos around zygotic genome activation (ZGA) (two-cell embryo stage in mice and eight-cell embryo in humans) are totipotent cells. Epigenetic modifications undergo extremely extensive changes during the acquisition of totipotency and subsequent development of differentiation. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Recently, the discovery of mouse two-cell embryo-like cells, human eight-cell embryo-like cells, extended pluripotent stem cells and totipotent-like stem cells with extra-embryonic developmental potential has greatly expanded our understanding of totipotency. Experiments with these in vitro models have led to insights into epigenetic changes in the reprogramming of pluri-to-totipotency, which have informed the exploration of preimplantation development. In this review, we highlight the recent findings in understanding the mechanisms of epigenetic remodeling during totipotency capture, including RNA splicing, DNA methylation, chromatin configuration, histone modifications, and nuclear organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingsheng Han
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ru Ma
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Na Liu
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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2
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Tian Q, Yin Y, Tian Y, Wang Y, Wang Y, Fukunaga R, Fujii T, Liao A, Li L, Zhang W, He X, Xiang W, Zhou L. Chromatin Modifier EP400 Regulates Oocyte Quality and Zygotic Genome Activation in Mice. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2308018. [PMID: 38493496 PMCID: PMC11132066 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifiers that accumulate in oocytes, play a crucial role in steering the developmental program of cleavage embryos and initiating life. However, the identification of key maternal epigenetic regulators remains elusive. In the findings, the essential role of maternal Ep400, a chaperone for H3.3, in oocyte quality and early embryo development in mice is highlighted. Depletion of Ep400 in oocytes resulted in a decline in oocyte quality and abnormalities in fertilization. Preimplantation embryos lacking maternal Ep400 exhibited reduced major zygotic genome activation (ZGA) and experienced developmental arrest at the 2-to-4-cell stage. The study shows that EP400 forms protein complex with NFYA, occupies promoters of major ZGA genes, modulates H3.3 distribution between euchromatin and heterochromatin, promotes transcription elongation, activates the expression of genes regulating mitochondrial functions, and facilitates the expression of rate-limiting enzymes of the TCA cycle. This intricate process driven by Ep400 ensures the proper execution of the developmental program, emphasizing its critical role in maternal-to-embryonic transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Tian
- Institute of Reproductive HealthTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430030China
- Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanHubei430071China
| | - Ying Yin
- Department of PhysiologySchool of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430030China
- Center for Genomics and Proteomics ResearchSchool of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430030China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Pharmacodynamic EvaluationHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430030China
| | - Yu Tian
- Institute of Reproductive HealthTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430030China
| | - Yufan Wang
- Institute of Reproductive HealthTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430030China
| | - Yong‐feng Wang
- Institute of Reproductive HealthTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430030China
| | - Rikiro Fukunaga
- Department of BiochemistryOsaka Medical and Pharmaceutical UniversityTakatsukiOsaka569‐1094Japan
| | - Toshihiro Fujii
- Department of BiochemistryOsaka Medical and Pharmaceutical UniversityTakatsukiOsaka569‐1094Japan
| | - Ai‐hua Liao
- Institute of Reproductive HealthTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430030China
| | - Lei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive BiologyInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100101China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanHubei430071China
| | - Ximiao He
- Department of PhysiologySchool of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430030China
- Center for Genomics and Proteomics ResearchSchool of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430030China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Pharmacodynamic EvaluationHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430030China
| | - Wenpei Xiang
- Institute of Reproductive HealthTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430030China
| | - Li‐quan Zhou
- Institute of Reproductive HealthTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430030China
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3
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Rother F, Depping R, Popova E, Huegel S, Heiler A, Hartmann E, Bader M. Karyopherin α2 is a maternal effect gene required for early embryonic development and female fertility in mice. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23623. [PMID: 38656660 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301572rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The nuclear transport of proteins plays an important role in mediating the transition from egg to embryo and distinct karyopherins have been implicated in this process. Here, we studied the impact of KPNA2 deficiency on preimplantation embryo development in mice. Loss of KPNA2 results in complete arrest at the 2cell stage and embryos exhibit the inability to activate their embryonic genome as well as a severely disturbed nuclear translocation of Nucleoplasmin 2. Our findings define KPNA2 as a new maternal effect gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Rother
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | | | - Elena Popova
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefanie Huegel
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ariane Heiler
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Enno Hartmann
- Institute for Biology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Michael Bader
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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4
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Sakamoto M, Ito A, Wakayama S, Sasaki H, Wakayama T, Ishiuchi T. Detection of newly synthesized RNA reveals transcriptional reprogramming during ZGA and a role of Obox3 in totipotency acquisition. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114118. [PMID: 38619966 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) after fertilization enables the maternal-to-zygotic transition. However, the global view of ZGA, particularly at initiation, is incompletely understood. Here, we develop a method to capture and sequence newly synthesized RNA in early mouse embryos, providing a view of transcriptional reprogramming during ZGA. Our data demonstrate that major ZGA gene activation begins earlier than previously thought. Furthermore, we identify a set of genes activated during minor ZGA, the promoters of which show enrichment of the Obox factor motif, and find that Obox3 or Obox5 overexpression in mouse embryonic stem cells activates ZGA genes. Notably, the expression of Obox factors is severely impaired in somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos, and restoration of Obox3 expression corrects the ZGA profile and greatly improves SCNT embryo development. Hence, our study reveals dynamic transcriptional reprogramming during ZGA and underscores the crucial role of Obox3 in facilitating totipotency acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mizuki Sakamoto
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Aoi Ito
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Sayaka Wakayama
- Advanced Biotechnology Center, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Sasaki
- Division of Epigenomics and Development, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Teruhiko Wakayama
- Advanced Biotechnology Center, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Takashi Ishiuchi
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan.
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5
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Lin Y, Yu L, Xu Q, Qiu P, Zhang Y, Dong X, Yan G, Sun H, Cao G. GATAD2B is required for pre-implantation embryonic development by regulating zygotic genome activation. Cell Prolif 2024:e13647. [PMID: 38605678 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Major zygotic genome activation (ZGA) occurs at the late 2-cell stage and involves the activation of thousands of genes, supporting early embryonic development. The reasons underlying the regulation of ZGA are not clear. Acetylation modifications of histone tails promote transcriptional activation, and the maternal deletion of H4K16ac leads to failure in ZGA. GATAD2B is one of the core subunits of the nucleosome remodelling and histone deacetylation (NuRD) complex. Our research has shown that GATAD2B exhibits specific nucleus localization and high protein expression from the late 2-cell stage to the 8-cell stage. This intriguing phenomenon prompted us to investigate the relationship between GATAD2B and the ZGA. We discovered a distinctive pattern of GATAD2B, starting from the late 2-cell stage with nuclear localization. GATAD2B depletion resulted in defective embryonic development, including increased DNA damage at morula, decreased blastocyst formation rate, and abnormal differentiation of ICM/TE lineages. Consistent with the delay during the cleavage stage, the transcriptome analysis of the 2-cell embryo revealed inhibition of the cell cycle G2/M phase transition pathway. Furthermore, the GATAD2B proteomic data provided clear evidence of a certain association between GATAD2B and molecules involved in the cell cycle pathway. As hypothesized, GATAD2B-deficient 2-cell embryos exhibited abnormalities in ZGA during the maternal-to-embryonic transition, with lower expression of the major ZGA marker MERVL. Overall, our results demonstrate that GATAD2B is essential for early embryonic development, in part through facilitating ZGA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuling Lin
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lina Yu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian Xu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Panpan Qiu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaohan Dong
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guijun Yan
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haixiang Sun
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guangyi Cao
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
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6
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Oomen ME, Torres-Padilla ME. Jump-starting life: balancing transposable element co-option and genome integrity in the developing mammalian embryo. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:1721-1733. [PMID: 38528171 PMCID: PMC11015026 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00118-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Remnants of transposable elements (TEs) are widely expressed throughout mammalian embryo development. Originally infesting our genomes as selfish elements and acting as a source of genome instability, several of these elements have been co-opted as part of a complex system of genome regulation. Many TEs have lost transposition ability and their transcriptional potential has been tampered as a result of interactions with the host throughout evolutionary time. It has been proposed that TEs have been ultimately repurposed to function as gene regulatory hubs scattered throughout our genomes. In the early embryo in particular, TEs find a perfect environment of naïve chromatin to escape transcriptional repression by the host. As a consequence, it is thought that hosts found ways to co-opt TE sequences to regulate large-scale changes in chromatin and transcription state of their genomes. In this review, we discuss several examples of TEs expressed during embryo development, their potential for co-option in genome regulation and the evolutionary pressures on TEs and on our genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlies E Oomen
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München, Germany
| | - Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München, Germany.
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, München, Germany.
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7
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Hu K, Li W, Ma S, Fang D, Xu J. The identification and classification of candidate genes during the zygotic genome activation in the mammals. ZYGOTE 2024; 32:119-129. [PMID: 38248909 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199423000631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is a critical event in early embryonic development, and thousands of genes are involved in this delicate and sophisticated biological process. To date, however, only a handful of these genes have revealed their core functions in this special process, and therefore the roles of other genes still remain unclear. In the present study, we used previously published transcriptome profiling to identify potential key genes (candidate genes) in minor ZGA and major ZGA in both human and mouse specimens, and further identified the conserved genes across species. Our results showed that 887 and 760 genes, respectively, were thought to be specific to human and mouse in major ZGA, and the other 135 genes were considered to be orthologous genes. Moreover, the conserved genes were most enriched in rRNA processing in the nucleus and cytosol, ribonucleoprotein complex biogenesis, ribonucleoprotein complex assembly and ribosome large subunit biogenesis. The findings of this first comprehensive identification and characterization of candidate genes in minor and major ZGA provide relevant insights for future studies on ZGA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyue Hu
- Luoyang maternal and Child Health Hospital, 206, Tongqu Road, Luoyang, Henan, 47100China
| | - Wenbo Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 40, Daxue Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052China
| | - Shuxia Ma
- Luoyang maternal and Child Health Hospital, 206, Tongqu Road, Luoyang, Henan, 47100China
| | - Dong Fang
- Luoyang maternal and Child Health Hospital, 206, Tongqu Road, Luoyang, Henan, 47100China
| | - Jiawei Xu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 40, Daxue Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052China
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8
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Vega-Sendino M, Lüttmann FF, Olbrich T, Chen Y, Kuenne C, Stein P, Tillo D, Carey GI, Zhong J, Savy V, Radonova L, Lu T, Saykali B, Kim KP, Domingo CN, Schüler L, Günther S, Bentsen M, Bosnakovski D, Schöler H, Kyba M, Maity TK, Jenkins LM, Looso M, Williams CJ, Kim J, Ruiz S. The homeobox transcription factor DUXBL controls exit from totipotency. Nat Genet 2024; 56:697-709. [PMID: 38509386 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01692-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
In mice, exit from the totipotent two-cell (2C) stage embryo requires silencing of the 2C-associated transcriptional program. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in this process remain poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that the 2C-specific transcription factor double homeobox protein (DUX) mediates an essential negative feedback loop by inducing the expression of DUXBL to promote this silencing. We show that DUXBL gains accessibility to DUX-bound regions specifically upon DUX expression. Furthermore, we determine that DUXBL interacts with TRIM24 and TRIM33, members of the TRIM superfamily involved in gene silencing, and colocalizes with them in nuclear foci upon DUX expression. Importantly, DUXBL overexpression impairs 2C-associated transcription, whereas Duxbl inactivation in mouse embryonic stem cells increases DUX-dependent induction of the 2C-transcriptional program. Consequently, DUXBL deficiency in embryos results in sustained expression of 2C-associated transcripts leading to early developmental arrest. Our study identifies DUXBL as an essential regulator of totipotency exit enabling the first divergence of cell fates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Felipe F Lüttmann
- Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- Cardio-Pulmonary Institute, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Teresa Olbrich
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yanpu Chen
- Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- Cardio-Pulmonary Institute, Frankfurt, Germany
- GMU-GIBH Joint School of Life Sciences, The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Vascular Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Carsten Kuenne
- Bioinformatics Core Unit (BCU), Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Paula Stein
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, NIEHS, NIH, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Grace I Carey
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jiasheng Zhong
- Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Virginia Savy
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, NIEHS, NIH, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Lenka Radonova
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, NIEHS, NIH, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Tianlin Lu
- Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- Cardio-Pulmonary Institute, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Bechara Saykali
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kee-Pyo Kim
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
- Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Leah Schüler
- Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Stefan Günther
- Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhein/Main, Germany
| | - Mette Bentsen
- Bioinformatics Core Unit (BCU), Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Darko Bosnakovski
- Lillehei Heart Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Hans Schöler
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - Michael Kyba
- Lillehei Heart Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Tapan K Maity
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lisa M Jenkins
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mario Looso
- Cardio-Pulmonary Institute, Frankfurt, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhein/Main, Germany
| | - Carmen J Williams
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, NIEHS, NIH, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Johnny Kim
- Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
- Cardio-Pulmonary Institute, Frankfurt, Germany.
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhein/Main, Germany.
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Partner Site Rhein/Main, Germany.
- Institute of Lung Health (ILH), Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
- The Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration and Immunology at TRON-Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz gGmbH, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Sergio Ruiz
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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9
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Exit from totipotency is controlled by DUXBL in mice. Nat Genet 2024; 56:563-564. [PMID: 38528243 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01690-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
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10
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Yang J, Cook L, Chen Z. Systematic evaluation of retroviral LTRs as cis-regulatory elements in mouse embryos. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113775. [PMID: 38381606 PMCID: PMC11024894 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
In mammals, many retrotransposons are de-repressed during zygotic genome activation (ZGA). However, their functions in early development remain elusive largely due to the challenge to simultaneously manipulate thousands of retrotransposon insertions in embryos. Here, we applied CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) to perturb the long terminal repeat (LTR) MT2_Mm, a well-known ZGA and totipotency marker that exists in ∼2,667 insertions throughout the mouse genome. CRISPRi robustly perturbed 2,485 (∼93%) MT2_Mm insertions and 1,090 (∼55%) insertions of the closely related MT2C_Mm in 2-cell embryos. Remarkably, such perturbation caused downregulation of hundreds of ZGA genes and embryonic arrest mostly at the morula stage. Mechanistically, MT2 LTRs are globally enriched for open chromatin and H3K27ac and function as promoters/enhancers downstream of OBOX/DUX proteins. Thus, we not only provide direct evidence to support the functional importance of MT2 activation in development but also systematically define cis-regulatory function of MT2 in embryos by integrating functional perturbation and multi-omic analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Yang
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Lauryn Cook
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Zhiyuan Chen
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
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11
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Hu Y, Wang Y, He Y, Ye M, Yuan J, Ren C, Wang X, Wang S, Guo Y, Cao Q, Zhou S, Wang B, He A, Hu J, Guo X, Shu W, Huo R. Maternal KLF17 controls zygotic genome activation by acting as a messenger for RNA Pol II recruitment in mouse embryos. Dev Cell 2024; 59:613-626.e6. [PMID: 38325372 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Initiation of timely and sufficient zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is crucial for the beginning of life, yet our knowledge of transcription factors (TFs) contributing to ZGA remains limited. Here, we screened the proteome of early mouse embryos after cycloheximide (CHX) treatment and identified maternally derived KLF17 as a potential TF for ZGA genes. Using a conditional knockout (cKO) mouse model, we further investigated the role of maternal KLF17 and found that it promotes embryonic development and full fertility. Mechanistically, KLF17 preferentially binds to promoters and recruits RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) in early 2-cell embryos, facilitating the expression of major ZGA genes. Maternal Klf17 knockout resulted in a downregulation of 9% of ZGA genes and aberrant RNA Pol II pre-configuration, which could be partially rescued by introducing exogenous KLF17. Overall, our study provides a strategy for screening essential ZGA factors and identifies KLF17 as a crucial TF in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Department of Histology and Embryology, Suzhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | | | - Yuanlin He
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Department of Histology and Embryology, Suzhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Maosheng Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Department of Histology and Embryology, Suzhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jie Yuan
- Bioinformatics Center of AMMS, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Ren
- Bioinformatics Center of AMMS, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Department of Histology and Embryology, Suzhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Siqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Department of Histology and Embryology, Suzhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yueshuai Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Department of Histology and Embryology, Suzhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiqi Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Department of Histology and Embryology, Suzhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuai Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Department of Histology and Embryology, Suzhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Department of Histology and Embryology, Suzhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Anlan He
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Department of Histology and Embryology, Suzhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | | | - Xuejiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Department of Histology and Embryology, Suzhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenjie Shu
- Bioinformatics Center of AMMS, Beijing, China.
| | - Ran Huo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Department of Histology and Embryology, Suzhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Innovation Center of Suzhou Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
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12
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Yang G, Xin Q, Dean J. Degradation and translation of maternal mRNA for embryogenesis. Trends Genet 2024; 40:238-249. [PMID: 38262796 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Maternal mRNAs accumulate during egg growth and must be judiciously degraded or translated to ensure successful development of mammalian embryos. In this review we integrate recent investigations into pathways controlling rapid degradation of maternal mRNAs during the maternal-to-zygotic transition. Degradation is not indiscriminate, and some mRNAs are selectively protected and rapidly translated after fertilization for reprogramming the zygotic genome during early embryogenesis. Oocyte specific cofactors and pathways have been illustrated to control different futures of maternal mRNAs. We discuss mechanisms that control the fate of maternal mRNAs during late oogenesis and after fertilization. Issues to be resolved in current maternal mRNA research are described, and future research directions are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanghui Yang
- Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Qiliang Xin
- Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jurrien Dean
- Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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13
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Vega-Sendino M, Ruiz S. Transition from totipotency to pluripotency in mice: insights into molecular mechanisms. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:231-239. [PMID: 38288760 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Totipotency is the ability of a single cell to develop into a full organism and, in mammals, is strictly associated with the early stages of development following fertilization. This unlimited developmental potential becomes quickly restricted as embryonic cells transition into a pluripotent state. The loss of totipotency seems a consequence of the zygotic genome activation (ZGA), a process that determines the switch from maternal to embryonic transcription, which in mice takes place following the first cleavage. ZGA confers to the totipotent cell a transient transcriptional profile characterized by the expression of stage-specific genes and a set of transposable elements that prepares the embryo for subsequent development. The timely silencing of this transcriptional program during the exit from totipotency is required to ensure proper development. Importantly, the molecular mechanisms regulating the transition from totipotency to pluripotency have remained elusive due to the scarcity of embryonic material. However, the development of new in vitro totipotent-like models together with advances in low-input genome-wide technologies, are providing a better mechanistic understanding of how this important transition is achieved. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the molecular determinants that regulate the exit from totipotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vega-Sendino
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20814, U.S.A
| | - Sergio Ruiz
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20814, U.S.A
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14
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Yakhou L, Azogui A, Therizols P, Defossez PA. [Using 2C-like cells to understand embryonic totipotency]. Med Sci (Paris) 2024; 40:147-153. [PMID: 38411422 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2023217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Totipotency is the ability of a cell to generate a whole organism, a property that characterizes the first embryonic cells, such as the zygote and the blastomeres. This review provides a retrospective on the progress made in the last decade in the study of totipotency, especially with the discovery of mouse ES cells expressing markers of the 2-cell stage (2C-like cells). This model has greatly contributed to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in totipotency (pioneer factors, epigenetic regulation, splicing, nuclear maturation). 2C-like cells have also paved the way for the development of new cellular models of human totipotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lounis Yakhou
- Équipe dynamiquede la méthylation de l'ADN des génomes eucaryotes, Centre épigénétique et destin cellulaire, UMR7216 CNRS, université Paris-Cité, 35 rue Hélène Brion, 75205 Paris Cedex 13, France
| | - Anaelle Azogui
- Équipe dynamiquede la méthylation de l'ADN des génomes eucaryotes, Centre épigénétique et destin cellulaire, UMR7216 CNRS, université Paris-Cité, 35 rue Hélène Brion, 75205 Paris Cedex 13, France
| | - Pierre Therizols
- Équipe dynamiquede la méthylation de l'ADN des génomes eucaryotes, Centre épigénétique et destin cellulaire, UMR7216 CNRS, université Paris-Cité, 35 rue Hélène Brion, 75205 Paris Cedex 13, France
| | - Pierre-Antoine Defossez
- Équipe dynamiquede la méthylation de l'ADN des génomes eucaryotes, Centre épigénétique et destin cellulaire, UMR7216 CNRS, université Paris-Cité, 35 rue Hélène Brion, 75205 Paris Cedex 13, France
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15
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Guo Y, Li TD, Modzelewski AJ, Siomi H. Retrotransposon renaissance in early embryos. Trends Genet 2024; 40:39-51. [PMID: 37949723 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite being the predominant genetic elements in mammalian genomes, retrotransposons were often dismissed as genomic parasites with ambiguous biological significance. However, recent studies reveal their functional involvement in early embryogenesis, encompassing crucial processes such as zygotic genome activation (ZGA) and cell fate decision. This review underscores the paradigm shift in our understanding of retrotransposon roles during early preimplantation development, as well as their rich functional reservoir that is exploited by the host to provide cis-regulatory elements, noncoding RNAs, and functional proteins. The rapid advancement in long-read sequencing, low input multiomics profiling, advanced in vitro systems, and precise gene editing techniques encourages further dissection of retrotransposon functions that were once obscured by the intricacies of their genomic footprints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youjia Guo
- Department of Molecular Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Ten D Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4539, USA
| | - Andrew J Modzelewski
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4539, USA.
| | - Haruhiko Siomi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; Human Biology Microbiome Quantum Research Center (WPI-Bio2Q), Keio University, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
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16
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Chen B, Pei D. Genetic clues to reprogramming power and formation of mouse oocyte. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 83:102110. [PMID: 37722148 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Oocyte features the unique capacity to reprogram not only sperm but also somatic nuclei to totipotency, yet the scarcity of oocytes has hindered the exploration and application of their reprogramming ability. In the meanwhile, the formation of oocytes, which involves extensive intracellular alterations and interactions, has also attracted tremendous interest. This review discusses developmental principles and regulatory mechanisms associated with ooplasm reprogramming and oocyte formation from a genetic perspective, with knowledge derived from mouse models. We also discuss future directions, especially to address the lack of insight into the regulatory networks that shape the identity of female germ cells or drive transitions in their developmental programs.
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17
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Lai F, Li L, Hu X, Liu B, Zhu Z, Liu L, Fan Q, Tian H, Xu K, Lu X, Li Q, Feng K, Wang L, Lin Z, Deng H, Li J, Xie W. NR5A2 connects zygotic genome activation to the first lineage segregation in totipotent embryos. Cell Res 2023; 33:952-966. [PMID: 37935903 PMCID: PMC10709309 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-023-00887-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) marks the beginning of the embryonic program for a totipotent embryo, which gives rise to the inner cell mass (ICM) where pluripotent epiblast arises, and extraembryonic trophectoderm. However, how ZGA is connected to the first lineage segregation in mammalian embryos remains elusive. Here, we investigated the role of nuclear receptor (NR) transcription factors (TFs), whose motifs are highly enriched and accessible from the 2-cell (2C) to 8-cell (8C) stages in mouse embryos. We found that NR5A2, an NR TF strongly induced upon ZGA, was required for this connection. Upon Nr5a2 knockdown or knockout, embryos developed beyond 2C normally with the zygotic genome largely activated. However, 4-8C-specific gene activation was substantially impaired and Nr5a2-deficient embryos subsequently arrested at the morula stage. Genome-wide chromatin binding analysis showed that NR5A2-bound cis-regulatory elements in both 2C and 8C embryos are strongly enriched for B1 elements where its binding motif is embedded. NR5A2 was not required for the global opening of its binding sites in 2C embryos but was essential to the opening of its 8C-specific binding sites. These 8C-specific, but not 2C-specific, binding sites are enriched near genes involved in blastocyst and stem cell regulation, and are often bound by master pluripotency TFs in blastocysts and embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Importantly, NR5A2 regulated key pluripotency genes Nanog and Pou5f1/Oct4, and primitive endoderm regulatory genes including Gata6 among many early ICM genes, as well as key trophectoderm regulatory genes including Tead4 and Gata3 at the 8C stage. By contrast, master pluripotency TFs NANOG, SOX2, and OCT4 targeted both early and late ICM genes in mouse ESCs. Taken together, these data identify NR5A2 as a key regulator in totipotent embryos that bridges ZGA to the first lineage segregation during mouse early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangnong Lai
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lijia Li
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Hu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bofeng Liu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ziqi Zhu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Fan
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huabin Tian
- CAS Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Xu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xukun Lu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Kong Feng
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lijuan Wang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zili Lin
- College of Animal Science and Technology College, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Hongyu Deng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinsong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Xie
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China.
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18
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Yang J, Cook L, Chen Z. Systematic Perturbation of Thousands of Retroviral LTRs in Mouse Embryos. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.19.558531. [PMID: 37781606 PMCID: PMC10541133 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.19.558531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
In mammals, many retrotransposons are de-repressed during zygotic genome activation (ZGA). However, their functions in early development remain elusive largely due to the challenge to simultaneously manipulate thousands of retrotransposon insertions in embryos. Here, we employed epigenome editing to perturb the long terminal repeat (LTR) MT2_Mm, a well-known ZGA and totipotency marker that exists in ~2667 insertions throughout the mouse genome. CRISPRi robustly repressed 2485 (~93%) MT2_Mm insertions and 1090 (~55%) insertions of the closely related MT2C_Mm in 2-cell embryos. Remarkably, such perturbation caused down-regulation of hundreds of ZGA genes at the 2-cell stage and embryonic arrest mostly at the morula stage. Mechanistically, MT2_Mm/MT2C_Mm primarily served as alternative ZGA promoters activated by OBOX proteins. Thus, through unprecedented large-scale epigenome editing, we addressed to what extent MT2_Mm/MT2C_Mm regulates ZGA and preimplantation development. Our approach could be adapted to systematically perturb retrotransposons in other mammalian embryos as it doesn't require transgenic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Yang
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, 45229, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, 45229, Ohio, USA
| | - Lauryn Cook
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, 45229, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, 45229, Ohio, USA
| | - Zhiyuan Chen
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, 45229, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, 45229, Ohio, USA
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