Transcription in pronuclei and one- to four-cell embryos drives early development in a nematode.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A long-standing view of development is that transcription is silenced in the oocyte until early divisions in the embryo. The point at which major transcription is reactivated varies between organisms, but is usually after the two-cell stage. However, this model may not be universal.

Results

We used RNA-seq and exploited the protracted development of the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum to provide a comprehensive time course of mRNA expression, degradation, and translation during early development. Surprisingly, we find that ∼4,000 genes are transcribed prior to pronuclear fusion and in the one- to four-cell embryos. Intriguingly, we do not detect maternal contribution of many orthologs of maternal C. elegans mRNAs, but instead find that these are newly transcribed

SUBMITTER: Wang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3953457 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature