Project description:Alternative splicing (AS) and alternative promoter (AP) usage expand the repertories of mammalian transcriptome profiles and thus diversify gene functions. However, our knowledge about the extent and functions of AS and AP usage in mouse early embryogenesis remains elusive. Here, by performing whole-transcriptome splicing profiling with high-throughput next generation sequencing, we report that AS extensively occurs in embryonic day (E) 7.5 mouse primary germ layers, and may be involved in multiple developmental processes. In addition, numerous RNA splicing factors are differentially expressed and alternatively spliced across the three germ layers, implying the potential importance of AS machinery in shaping early embryogenesis. Notably, AP usage is remarkably frequent at this stage, accounting for more than one quarter (430/1648) of the total significantly different AS events. Genes generating the 430 AP events participate in numerous biological processes, and include important regulators essential for mouse early embryogenesis, suggesting that AP usage is widely used and might be relevant to mouse germ layer specification. Our data underline the potential significance of AP usage in mouse gastrulation, providing a rich data source and opening another dimension for understanding the regulatory mechanisms of mammalian early development. The Microarray was used to measure gene expression in E7.5 mouse primary germ layers, which was compared to an independent RNA-seq data performed in our lab.
Project description:Primordial germ cell mRNA profiles from cells microdissected from e6.5, e7.5 and e8.5 embryos, e7.5 somatic neighbours and Blimp1-KO mice were generated by single cell library construction and sequencing in duplicate using Applied Biosystems SOLiD sequencer. Single cell library construction is described in: Tang f. et. al, Nature Protocols (2010), Vol. 5, p.516.
Project description:Alternative splicing (AS) and alternative promoter (AP) usage expand the repertories of mammalian transcriptome profiles and thus diversify gene functions. However, our knowledge about the extent and functions of AS and AP usage in mouse early embryogenesis remains elusive. Here, by performing whole-transcriptome splicing profiling with high-throughput next generation sequencing, we report that AS extensively occurs in embryonic day (E) 7.5 mouse primary germ layers, and may be involved in multiple developmental processes. In addition, numerous RNA splicing factors are differentially expressed and alternatively spliced across the three germ layers, implying the potential importance of AS machinery in shaping early embryogenesis. Notably, AP usage is remarkably frequent at this stage, accounting for more than one quarter (430/1648) of the total significantly different AS events. Genes generating the 430 AP events participate in numerous biological processes, and include important regulators essential for mouse early embryogenesis, suggesting that AP usage is widely used and might be relevant to mouse germ layer specification. Our data underline the potential significance of AP usage in mouse gastrulation, providing a rich data source and opening another dimension for understanding the regulatory mechanisms of mammalian early development.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE32080: DNA methylation profiling of embryonic stem cell differentiation into the three germ layers [MeDIP analysis] GSE32081: DNA methylation profiling of embryonic stem cell differentiation into the three germ layers [Expression analysis] Refer to individual Series
Project description:Embryogenesis is tightly regulated by multiple levels of epigenetic systems such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling. DNA methylation patterns are erased in primordial germ cells and in the interval immediately following fertilization. Subsequent reprogramming occurs by de novo methylation and demethylation. Variance of DNA methylation patterns between different cell types is not well understood. Here, using methylated DNA immunoprecipitation and tiling array technology, we have comprehensively analysed DNA methylation patterns at proximal promoter regions in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, ES cell-derived early germ layers (ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm) and four adult tissues (brain, liver, skeletal muscle and sperm). Most of the methylated regions in the three germ layers and in the three adult somatic tissues are shared in common. This commonly methylated gene set is enriched in germ cell associated genes that are generally transcriptionally inactive in somatic cells. We also compared DNA methylation patterns with global mapping of histone H3 lysine 4/27 trimethylation, and found that gain of DNA methylation correlates with loss of histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation. Taken together, our findings indicate that differentiation from ES cells to the three germ layers is accompanied by an increase in the number of commonly methylated DNA regions and that these tissue-specific alterations are present for only a small number of genes. Our findings indicate that DNA methylation at the proximal promoter regions of commonly methylated genes act as an irreversible mark which fixes somatic lineage by repressing transcription of germ cell specific genes. Expression profiling of SK7 ES cells, SK7 derived-Ectoderm, - Endoderm, and -Paraxial mesoderm, and brain, liver, skeletal muscle tissues from ICR mouse.
Project description:Embryogenesis is tightly regulated by multiple levels of epigenetic systems such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling. DNA methylation patterns are erased in primordial germ cells and in the interval immediately following fertilization. Subsequent reprogramming occurs by de novo methylation and demethylation. Variance of DNA methylation patterns between different cell types is not well understood. Here, using methylated DNA immunoprecipitation and tiling array technology, we have comprehensively analysed DNA methylation patterns at proximal promoter regions in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, ES cell-derived early germ layers (ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm) and four adult tissues (brain, liver, skeletal muscle and sperm). Most of the methylated regions in the three germ layers and in the three adult somatic tissues are shared in common. This commonly methylated gene set is enriched in germ cell associated genes that are generally transcriptionally inactive in somatic cells. We also compared DNA methylation patterns with global mapping of histone H3 lysine 4/27 trimethylation, and found that gain of DNA methylation correlates with loss of histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation. Taken together, our findings indicate that differentiation from ES cells to the three germ layers is accompanied by an increase in the number of commonly methylated DNA regions and that these tissue-specific alterations are present for only a small number of genes. Our findings indicate that DNA methylation at the proximal promoter regions of commonly methylated genes act as an irreversible mark which fixes somatic lineage by repressing transcription of germ cell specific genes.