Series type: Survey

Publication: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.04.030

GEO/SRA ID: SRP020008

Description: Early vertebrate embryos must achieve totipotency and prepare for zygotic genome activation (ZGA). To understand this process; we determined the DNA methylation (DNAme) profiles of zebrafish gametes; embryos at different stages; and somatic muscle and compared them to gene activity and histone modifications. Sperm chromatin patterns are virtually identical to those at ZGA. Unexpectedly; the DNA of many oocyte genes important for germ-line functions (i.e.;_piwil1) or early development (i.e.;_hox_genes) is methylated; but the loci are demethylated during zygotic cleavage stages to precisely the state observed in sperm; even in parthenogenetic embryos lacking a replicating paternal genome. Furthermore; this cohort constitutes the genes and loci that acquire DNAme during development (i.e.; ZGA to muscle). Finally; DNA methyltransferase inhibition experiments suggest that DNAme silences particular gene and chromatin cohorts at ZGA; preventing their precocious expression. Thus; zebrafish achieve a totipotent chromatin state at ZGA through paternal genome competency and maternal genome DNAme reprogramming.

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Added by User: patrick.murphy

Date Added: June 16, 2016, 3:40 p.m.

Series Last Edited: Feb. 12, 2019, 12:59 a.m.