Project description:Following fertilization, the new embryo reprograms parental genomes to begin transcription (embryonic genome activation, EGA). EGA is indispensable for development, but its dynamics, profile or when it initiates in vertebrates are unknown. We here characterize the onset of transcription in mouse one-cell embryos. Precise embryo staging eliminated noise to reveal a cascading program of de novo transcription initiating within six hours of fertilization. This immediate EGA (iEGA) utilized canonical promoters, produced spliced transcripts, was distinctive and predominantly driven by the maternal genome. Expression represented pathways not only associated with embryo development but with cancer. In human one-cell embryos, hundreds of genes were up-regulated, days earlier than thought, with conservation to mouse iEGA. These findings provide a functional basis for epigenetic analysis in early-stage embryos and illuminate networks governing totipotency and other cell-fate transitions.
Project description:At the moment of union in fertilization, sperm and oocyte are transcriptionally silent. The ensuing onset of embryonic transcription (embryonic genome activation, EGA) is critical for development, yet its timing and profile are unknown in any vertebrate species. We here dissect hitherto inaccessible transcription during EGA by high resolution single-cell RNA-sequencing of precisely synchronized mouse one-cell embryos. This reveals a program of embryonic gene expression (immediate EGA, iEGA) initiating within four hours of fertilization. Expression during iEGA produces canonically-spliced transcripts, occurs substantially from the maternal genome, and is mostly down-regulated at the two-cell stage. Transcribed genes predict regulation by transcription factors (TFs) associated with cancer, including c-Myc. Blocking c- Myc or other predicted regulatory TF activities disrupts iEGA and induces acute developmental arrest. These findings illuminate intracellular mechanisms that regulate the onset of mammalian development and promise a new paradigm for the study of cancer
Project description:In vitro production (IVP) has been shown to affect embryonic gene expression and often result in large offspring syndrome (LOS) in cattle and sheep. To dissect the effects of in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture, we compared the expression profiles of single bovine blastocysts generated by: 1) in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture (IVF); 2) in vivo maturation, fertilization and in vitro culture (IVD); and 3) in vivo maturation, fertilization and development (AI). To conduct expression profiling, total RNA was isolated from individual embryos, linearly amplified and hybridized to a custom bovine cDNA microarray containing approximately 6,300 unique genes. There were 306, 367 and 200 genes differentially expressed between the AI and IVD, IVF and IVD and AI and IVF comparisons, respectively. Interestingly, 44 differentially expressed genes were identified between the AI embryos and both the IVF and IVD embryos, making these potential candidates for LOS. There were 60 genes differentially expressed between the IVF embryos and the AI and IVD embryos. The Gene Ontology category “RNA processing” was over-represented among the genes that were down-regulated in the IVF embryos, indicating an effect of in vitro oocyte maturation/fertilization on embryonic gene expression. A culture effect on the expression of genes involved in translation was also observed by the comparison of AI to IVD embryos. Keywords: developmental condition
Project description:We compared Agilent custom made expression microarrays with Illumina deep sequencing for RNA analysis of zebrafish embryos 5 days post fertilization, showing as expected a high degree of correlation of expression of a common set of 15,927 genes. This microarray study was designed to determine the gene expression profile of zebrafish embryos 5 days post fertilization. We also have compared expression with embryos that were injected with Mycobacterium marinum in the yolk at 2 hours post fertilization. After injections embryos were transferred into fresh egg water and incubated at 28M-BM-0C. 150 embryos of mock-injected embryos or 200 embryos injected with 12 CFU bacteria were snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and total RNA was isolated using TRIZOL reagent. The samples were analyzed in a technical duplicate using a dye swap experiment in order to check for dye bias.
Project description:We compared Agilent custom made expression microarrays with Illumina deep sequencing for RNA analysis of zebrafish embryos 5 days post fertilization, showing as expected a high degree of correlation of expression of a common set of 15,927 genes for untreated fish. The transcriptomes were also compared for fish injected in the yolk with Mycobacterium marinum This RNA deep sequencing study was designed to determine the gene expression profile of zebrafish embryos 5 days post fertilization. We also have compared expression with embryos that were injected with Mycobacterium marinum in the yolk at 2 hours post fertilization. After injections embryos were transferred into fresh egg water and incubated at 28M-BM-0C. 150 embryos of mock-injected embryos or 200 embryos injected with 12 CFU bacteria were snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and total RNA was isolated using TRIZOL reagent.
Project description:In vitro production (IVP) has been shown to affect embryonic gene expression and often result in large offspring syndrome (LOS) in cattle and sheep. To dissect the effects of in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture, we compared the expression profiles of single bovine blastocysts generated by: 1) in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture (IVF); 2) in vivo maturation, fertilization and in vitro culture (IVD); and 3) in vivo maturation, fertilization and development (AI). To conduct expression profiling, total RNA was isolated from individual embryos, linearly amplified and hybridized to a custom bovine cDNA microarray containing approximately 6,300 unique genes. There were 306, 367 and 200 genes differentially expressed between the AI and IVD, IVF and IVD and AI and IVF comparisons, respectively. Interestingly, 44 differentially expressed genes were identified between the AI embryos and both the IVF and IVD embryos, making these potential candidates for LOS. There were 60 genes differentially expressed between the IVF embryos and the AI and IVD embryos. The Gene Ontology category M-bM-^@M-^\RNA processingM-bM-^@M-^] was over-represented among the genes that were down-regulated in the IVF embryos, indicating an effect of in vitro oocyte maturation/fertilization on embryonic gene expression. A culture effect on the expression of genes involved in translation was also observed by the comparison of AI to IVD embryos. Reference design with dye swap. 43 individual embryos were analyzed.
Project description:We compared Agilent custom made expression microarrays with Illumina deep sequencing for RNA analysis of zebrafish embryos 5 days post fertilization, showing as expected a high degree of correlation of expression of a common set of 15,927 genes.
Project description:Transcriptomic profiling of the response to dioxin in developing zebrafish embryos, at 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h post-fertilization. The goal was to elucidate mechanisms by which dioxin causes toxicity in zebrafish; this dose was previously shown to induce teratogenesis.
Project description:We compared Agilent custom made expression microarrays with Illumina deep sequencing for RNA analysis of zebrafish embryos 5 days post fertilization, showing as expected a high degree of correlation of expression of a common set of 15,927 genes for untreated fish. The transcriptomes were also compared for fish injected in the yolk with Mycobacterium marinum
Project description:Fertilization triggers release from meiotic arrest and initiates events that prepare for the ensuing developmental program. Protein degradation and phosphorylation are known to regulate protein activity during this process. However, the full extent of protein loss and phospho-regulation is still unknown. We examined absolute protein and phospho-site dynamics after fertilization by mass spectrometry-based proteomics. To do this, we developed a new approach for calculating the stoichiometry of phospho-sites from multiplexed proteomics compatible with dynamic, stable and multi-site phosphorylation. Overall, the data suggest that degradation is limited to a few low abundance proteins. However, this degradation in part promotes extensive dephosphorylation that occurs over a wide range of abundances during meiotic exit. We also show that eggs release a large amount of protein into the medium just after fertilization, most likely related to the blocks to polyspermy. Concomitantly, there is a substantial increase in phosphorylation likely tied to calcium activated kinases. We identify putative degradation targets as well as new components of the block to polyspermy. The analytical approaches demonstrated here are broadly applicable to studies of dynamic biological systems.