A set of genes critical to development is epigenetically poised in mouse germ cells from fetal stages through completion of meiosis.

ABSTRACT: In multicellular organisms, germ cells carry the hereditary material from one generation to the next. Developing germ cells are unipotent gamete precursors, and mature gametes are highly differentiated, specialized cells. However, upon gamete union at fertilization, their genomes drive a totipotent program, giving rise to a complete embryo as well as extraembryonic tissues. The biochemical basis for the ability to transition from differentiated cell to totipotent zygote is unknown. Here we report that a set of developmentally critical genes is maintained in an epigenetically poised (bivalent) state from embryonic stages through the end of meiosis. We performed ChIP-seq and RNA-seq analysis on flow-sorted male and female germ cells during embryogenesis at three time points surrounding sexua

SUBMITTER: Lesch BJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3791702 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature