ZAR1/2-Regulated Epigenetic Modifications are Essential for Age-Associated Oocyte Quality Maintenance and Zygotic Activation.

ABSTRACT: The developmental competence and epigenetic progression of oocytes gradually become dysregulated with increasing maternal age. However, the mechanisms underlying age-related epigenetic regulation in oocytes remain poorly understood. Zygote arrest proteins 1 and 2 (ZAR1/2) are two maternal factors with partially redundant roles in maintaining oocyte quality, mainly known by regulating mRNA stability. In addition to this known function, it is found that ZAR1/2 is required for oocyte epigenetic maturation and zygotic reprogramming. Zar1/2-deleted oocytes exhibited reduced levels of multiple histone modifications and of the expression of corresponding histone modifiers, along with over-condensed chromatin, leading to compromised minor zygotic genome activation and deficient embryo development

SUBMITTER: Rong Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11848533 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature