The specification and global reprogramming of histone epigenetic marks during gamete formation and early embryo development in C. elegans.

ABSTRACT: In addition to the DNA contributed by sperm and oocytes, embryos receive parent-specific epigenetic information that can include histone variants, histone post-translational modifications (PTMs), and DNA methylation. However, a global view of how such marks are erased or retained during gamete formation and reprogrammed after fertilization is lacking. To focus on features conveyed by histones, we conducted a large-scale proteomic identification of histone variants and PTMs in sperm and mixed-stage embryo chromatin from C. elegans, a species that lacks conserved DNA methylation pathways. The fate of these histone marks was then tracked using immunostaining. Proteomic analysis found that sperm harbor ∼2.4 fold lower levels of histone PTMs than embryos and revealed differences in classes of P

SUBMITTER: Samson M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4191889 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature