scholarly journals Establishment of Developmental Gene Silencing by Ordered Polycomb Complex Recruitment in Early Zebrafish Embryos

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley R Cairns ◽  
Graham J.M. Hickey ◽  
Candice Wike ◽  
Xichen Nie ◽  
Yixuan Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
De Novo ◽  
Zebrafish Embryos ◽  
Dna Hypomethylation ◽  
Developmental Gene ◽  
Developmental Genes ◽  
Vertebrate Embryos ◽  
Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 ◽  
Genome Activation ◽  
Polycomb Complex ◽  
Zygotic Genome

Vertebrate embryos achieve developmental competency during zygotic genome activation (ZGA) by establishing chromatin states that silence yet poise developmental genes for subsequent lineage-specific activation. Here, we reveal how developmental gene poising is established de novo in preZGA zebrafish embryos. Poising is established at promoters and enhancers that initially contain open/permissive chromatin with 'Placeholder' nucleosomes (bearing H2A.Z, H3K4me1, and H3K27ac), and DNA hypomethylation. Silencing is initiated by the recruitment of Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1), and H2Aub1 deposition by catalytic Rnf2 during preZGA and ZGA stages. During postZGA, H2Aub1 enables Aebp2-containing PRC2 recruitment and H3K27me3 deposition. Notably, preventing H2Aub1 (via Rnf2 inhibition) eliminates recruitment of Aebp2-PRC2 and H3K27me3, and elicits transcriptional upregulation of certain developmental genes during ZGA. However, upregulation is independent of H3K27me3 - establishing H2Aub1 as the critical silencing modification at ZGA. Taken together, we reveal the logic and mechanism for establishing poised/silent developmental genes in early vertebrate embryos.

scholarly journals Establishment of developmental gene silencing by ordered polycomb complex recruitment in early zebrafish embryos

eLife ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham JM Hickey ◽  
Candice L Wike ◽  
Xichen Nie ◽  
Yixuan Guo ◽  
Mengyao Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zebrafish Embryos ◽  
Dna Hypomethylation ◽  
Developmental Gene ◽  
Developmental Genes ◽  
Chromatin States ◽  
Vertebrate Embryos ◽  
Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 ◽  
Genome Activation ◽  
Polycomb Complex ◽  
Zygotic Genome

Vertebrate embryos achieve developmental competency during zygotic genome activation (ZGA) by establishing chromatin states that silence yet poise developmental genes for subsequent lineage-specific activation. Here, we reveal the order of chromatin states in establishing developmental gene poising in preZGA zebrafish embryos. Poising is established at promoters and enhancers that initially contain open/permissive chromatin with 'Placeholder' nucleosomes (bearing H2A.Z, H3K4me1, and H3K27ac), and DNA hypomethylation. Silencing is initiated by the recruitment of Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1), and H2Aub1 deposition by catalytic Rnf2 during preZGA and ZGA stages. During postZGA, H2Aub1 enables Aebp2-containing PRC2 recruitment and H3K27me3 deposition. Notably, preventing H2Aub1 (via Rnf2 inhibition) eliminates recruitment of Aebp2-PRC2 and H3K27me3, and elicits transcriptional upregulation of certain developmental genes during ZGA. However, upregulation is independent of H3K27me3 - establishing H2Aub1 as the critical silencing modification at ZGA. Taken together, we reveal the logic and mechanism for establishing poised/silent developmental genes in early vertebrate embryos.

scholarly journals Pluripotency factors select gene expression repertoire at Zygotic Genome Activation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meijiang Gao ◽  
Marina Veil ◽  
Marcus Rosenblatt ◽  
Anna Gebhard ◽  
Helge Hass ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Early Gene ◽  
Zebrafish Embryos ◽  
Fate Specification ◽  
Pluripotency Factors ◽  
Zygotic Transcription ◽  
Simultaneous Loss ◽  
Genome Activation ◽  
Zygotic Genome

AbstractAwakening of zygotic transcription in animal embryos relies on maternal pioneer transcription factors. The interplay of global and specific functions of these proteins remains poorly understood. Here, we analyzed nucleosome positioning, H3K27 acetylation, transcription, and gastrulation rates in zebrafish embryos lacking pluripotency factors Pou5f3 and Sox19b. We show that the bulk transcriptional onset does not require Sox19b and Pou5f3, but is sensitive to their balance. Pou5f3 docks H3K27ac on the enhancers of genes involved in gastrulation and ventral fate specification. Sox19b facilitates Pou5f3 access to one-third of these enhancers. The genes regulating mesendodermal and dorsal fates are primed for activation independently on Pou5f3 and Sox19b. Strikingly, the loss of either factor results in activation of silent enhancers; simultaneous loss of both leads to premature expression of differentiation genes. Our results uncover how independent activities of maternal Pou5f3 and Sox19b add up or antagonize to determine the early gene expression repertoire.

scholarly journals Developmental clock and mechanism of de novo polarization of the mouse embryo

Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 370 (6522) ◽  
pp. eabd2703
Author(s):  
Meng Zhu ◽  
Jake Cornwall-Scoones ◽  
Peizhe Wang ◽  
Charlotte E. Handford ◽  
Jie Na ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Cell Fate Specification ◽  
Mouse Development ◽  
Fate Specification ◽  
Apical Domain ◽  
Transcription Factor 4 ◽  
Genome Activation ◽  
Zygotic Genome

Embryo polarization is critical for mouse development; however, neither the regulatory clock nor the molecular trigger that it activates is known. Here, we show that the embryo polarization clock reflects the onset of zygotic genome activation, and we identify three factors required to trigger polarization. Advancing the timing of transcription factor AP-2 gamma (Tfap2c) and TEA domain transcription factor 4 (Tead4) expression in the presence of activated Ras homolog family member A (RhoA) induces precocious polarization as well as subsequent cell fate specification and morphogenesis. Tfap2c and Tead4 induce expression of actin regulators that control the recruitment of apical proteins on the membrane, whereas RhoA regulates their lateral mobility, allowing the emergence of the apical domain. Thus, Tfap2c, Tead4, and RhoA are regulators for the onset of polarization and cell fate segregation in the mouse.

scholarly journals Prepatterning of Developmental Gene Expression by Modified Histones before Zygotic Genome Activation

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 993-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leif C. Lindeman ◽  
Ingrid S. Andersen ◽  
Andrew H. Reiner ◽  
Nan Li ◽  
Håvard Aanes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Zygotic Genome Activation ◽  
Developmental Gene ◽  
Developmental Gene Expression ◽  
Genome Activation ◽  
Zygotic Genome

scholarly journals Chiffon triggers global histone H3 acetylation and expression of developmental genes in Drosophila embryos

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliana F. Torres-Zelada ◽  
Smitha George ◽  
Hannah R. Blum ◽  
Vikki M. Weake
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Histone Acetylation ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Developmental Genes ◽  
Histone Acetyltransferase Gcn5 ◽  
Genome Activation ◽  
H3 Acetylation ◽  
Drosophila Embryos ◽  
Cell Cycle Kinase ◽  
Zygotic Genome

The histone acetyltransferase Gcn5 is critical for gene expression and development. In Drosophila, Gcn5 is part of four complexes (SAGA, ATAC, CHAT, and ADA) that are essential for fly viability and have key roles in regulating gene expression. Here, we show that while the SAGA, ADA, and CHAT complexes play redundant roles in embryonic gene expression, the insect-specific CHAT complex uniquely regulates expression of a subset of developmental genes. We also identify a substantial decrease in histone acetylation in chiffon mutant embryos that exceeds that observed in ada2b, suggesting broader roles for Chiffon in regulating histone acetylation outside of the Gcn5 complexes. The chiffon gene encodes two independent polypeptides that nucleate formation of either the CHAT or Dbf4-dependent kinase (DDK) complexes. DDK includes the cell cycle kinase Cdc7, which is necessary for maternally-driven DNA replication in the embryo. We identify a temporal switch between the expression of these chiffon gene products during a short window during the early nuclear cycles in embryos that correlates with the onset of zygotic genome activation, suggesting a potential role for CHAT in this process.

scholarly journals Histone variant H2A.Z regulates zygotic genome activation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dafne Ibarra-Morales ◽  
Michael Rauer ◽  
Piergiuseppe Quarato ◽  
Leily Rabbani ◽  
Fides Zenk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Housekeeping Genes ◽  
Histone Variant ◽  
Small Subset ◽  
Zygotic Genome Activation ◽  
Transcription Start Sites ◽  
Genome Activation ◽  
Zygotic Genome

AbstractDuring embryogenesis, the genome shifts from transcriptionally quiescent to extensively active in a process known as Zygotic Genome Activation (ZGA). In Drosophila, the pioneer factor Zelda is known to be essential for the progression of development; still, it regulates the activation of only a small subset of genes at ZGA. However, thousands of genes do not require Zelda, suggesting that other mechanisms exist. By conducting GRO-seq, HiC and ChIP-seq in Drosophila embryos, we demonstrate that up to 65% of zygotically activated genes are enriched for the histone variant H2A.Z. H2A.Z enrichment precedes ZGA and RNA Polymerase II loading onto chromatin. In vivo knockdown of maternally contributed Domino, a histone chaperone and ATPase, reduces H2A.Z deposition at transcription start sites, causes global downregulation of housekeeping genes at ZGA, and compromises the establishment of the 3D chromatin structure. We infer that H2A.Z is essential for the de novo establishment of transcriptional programs during ZGA via chromatin reorganization.

scholarly journals Characterization of zygotic genome activation-dependent maternal mRNA clearance in mouse

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 879-894 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian-Qian Sha ◽  
Ye-Zhang Zhu ◽  
Sen Li ◽  
Yu Jiang ◽  
Lu Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
De Novo ◽  
Mouse Embryos ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Preimplantation Embryos ◽  
Zygotic Genome Activation ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Maternal Mrna ◽  
Maternal Transcripts ◽  
Genome Activation ◽  
Zygotic Genome

Abstract An important event of the maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) in animal embryos is the elimination of a subset of the maternal transcripts that accumulated during oogenesis. In both invertebrates and vertebrates, a maternally encoded mRNA decay pathway (M-decay) acts before zygotic genome activation (ZGA) while a second pathway, which requires zygotic transcription, subsequently clears additional mRNAs (Z-decay). To date the mechanisms that activate the Z-decay pathway in mammalian early embryos have not been investigated. Here, we identify murine maternal transcripts that are degraded after ZGA and show that inhibition of de novo transcription stabilizes these mRNAs in mouse embryos. We show that YAP1-TEAD4 transcription factor-mediated transcription is essential for Z-decay in mouse embryos and that TEAD4-triggered zygotic expression of terminal uridylyltransferases TUT4 and TUT7 and mRNA 3′-oligouridylation direct Z-decay. Components of the M-decay pathway, including BTG4 and the CCR4-NOT deadenylase, continue to function in Z-decay but require reinforcement from the zygotic factors for timely removal of maternal mRNAs. A long 3′-UTR and active translation confer resistance of Z-decay transcripts to M-decay during oocyte meiotic maturation. The Z-decay pathway is required for mouse embryo development beyond the four-cell stage and contributes to the developmental competence of preimplantation embryos.

scholarly journals Pervasive non-CpG methylation at zebrafish mosaic satellite repeats

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel E Ross ◽  
Allegra Angeloni ◽  
Alex de Mendoza ◽  
Ozren Bogdanovic
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Dna Methyltransferases ◽  
Cpg Methylation ◽  
Zebrafish Embryos ◽  
Neural Cells ◽  
Satellite Repeats ◽  
Cg Dinucleotides ◽  
Genome Activation ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Zygotic Genome

AbstractIn vertebrates, DNA methylation predominantly occurs at CG dinucleotides even though widespread non-CG methylation (mCH) has been reported in mammalian embryonic and neural cells. Unlike in mammals, where mCH is found enriched at CAC/G trinucleotides and is tissue-restricted, we find that zebrafish embryos as well as adult somatic and germline tissues display robust methylation enrichment at TGCT positions associated with mosaic satellite repeats. These repeats reside in H3K9me3-marked heterochromatin and display mCH reprogramming coincident with zygotic genome activation. Altogether, this work provides insight into a novel form of vertebrate mCH and highlights the substrate diversity of vertebrate DNA methyltransferases.

scholarly journals DPPA2 and DPPA4 are dispensable for mouse zygotic genome activation and preimplantation development

Development ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyuan Chen ◽  
Zhenfei Xie ◽  
Yi Zhang
Keyword(s):  
De Novo ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Preimplantation Development ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Maternal Factors ◽  
Zygotic Genome Activation ◽  
Genome Activation ◽  
Zygotic Genome

How maternal factors in oocytes initiate zygotic genome activation (ZGA) remains elusive in mammals, partly due to the challenge of de novo identification of key factors using scarce materials. The 2-cell (2C) embryo like cells has been widely used as an in vitro model to understand mouse ZGA and totipotency given its expression of a group of 2C embryo-specific genes and its simplicity for genetic manipulation. Recent studies indicate that DPPA2 and DPPA4 are required for establishing the 2C-like state in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in a DUX-dependent manner. These results suggest that DPPA2 and DPPA4 are essential maternal factors that regulate Dux and ZGA in embryos. By analyzing maternal knockout and maternal-zygotic knockout embryos, we unexpectedly found that DPPA2 and DPPA4 are dispensable for Dux activation, ZGA, and preimplantation development. Our study suggests that 2C-like cells do not fully recapitulate 2-cell embryos in terms of 2C-gene regulation and cautions should be taken when studying ZGA and totipotency using 2C-like cells as the model system.

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