scholarly journals Zygotic contractility awakening during mouse preimplantation development

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Özge Özgüç ◽  
Ludmilla de Plater ◽  
Varun Kapoor ◽  
Anna-Francesca Tortorelli ◽  
Jean-Léon Maitre
Keyword(s):  
Cell Size ◽  
Mouse Embryo ◽  
Oscillation Frequency ◽  
Preimplantation Development ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
The Awakening ◽  
Actomyosin Contractility ◽  
Stepwise Reduction ◽  
Cleavage Stages ◽  
Cortical Waves

Actomyosin contractility is a major engine of preimplantation morphogenesis, which starts at the 8-cell stage during mouse embryonic development. Contractility becomes first visible with the appearance of periodic cortical waves of contraction (PeCoWaCo), which travel around blastomeres in an oscillatory fashion. How contractility of the mouse embryo becomes active remains unknown. We have taken advantage of PeCoWaCo to study the awakening of contractility during preimplantation development. We find that PeCoWaCo become detectable in most embryos only after the 2nd cleavage and gradually increase their oscillation frequency with each successive cleavage. To test the influence of cell size reduction during cleavage divisions, we use cell fusion and fragmentation to manipulate cell size across a 20-60 μm range. We find that the stepwise reduction in cell size caused by cleavage divisions does not explain the presence of PeCoWaCo or their accelerating rhythm. Instead, we discover that blastomeres gradually decrease their surface tensions until the 8-cell stage and that artificially softening cells enhances PeCoWaCo prematurely. Therefore, during cleavage stages, cortical softening awakens zygotic contractility before preimplantation morphogenesis.

scholarly journals Expression profile of protein kinase C isozymes in preimplantation mouse development

Reproduction ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 130 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hesam Dehghani ◽  
Ann C Hahnel
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase C ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Mouse Embryo ◽  
Mitotic Cell ◽  
Preimplantation Development ◽  
Mouse Development ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Kinase C ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse ◽  
The Individual

In the preimplantation mouse embryo, the protein kinase C (PKC) family has been implicated in regulation of egg activation, progression of meiotic and mitotic cell cycles, embryo compaction, and blastulation, but the involvement of the individual isozymes is largely unknown. Here, using semiquantitative immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy we analyze the relative amount and subcellular distribution of ten isozymes of PKC (α, βI, βII, γ, δ, ε, η, 𝛉, ζ, ι/λ) and a PKC-anchoring protein, receptor for activated C-kinase 1 (RACK1). Our results show that all of these isoforms of PKC are present between the two-cell and blastocyst stages of mouse preimplantation development, and that each has a distinct, dynamic pattern and level of expression. The data suggest that different complements of the isozymes are involved in various steps of preimplantation development, and will serve as a framework for further functional studies of the individual isozymes. In particular, there was a transient increase in the nuclear concentration of several isozymes at the early four-cell stage, suggesting that some of the PKC isozymes might be involved in regulation of nuclear organization and function in the early mouse embryo.

Cell-matrix interactions in the early mouse embryo

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 600-601
Author(s):  
A.E. Sutherland ◽  
P.G. Calarco ◽  
C.H. Damsky
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Embryo ◽  
Giant Cells ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Integrin Subunit ◽  
Β1 Integrin ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Early Mouse Embryo ◽  
Migratory Activity ◽  
Early Mouse ◽  
Cell Matrix Interactions

Cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions mediated by the integrin family of receptors are critical for morphogenesis and may also play a regulatory role in differentiation during early development. We have examined the onset of expression of individual integrin subunit proteins in the early mouse embryo, and their roles in early morphogenetic events. As detected by immunoprecipitation, the α6, αV, β1, and β3 subunits are detected as early as the 4-cell stage, α5 at the hatched blastocyst stage and αl and α3 following blastocyst attachment. We tested the role of these integrins in the attachment and migratory activity of two cell populations of the early mouse embryo: the trophoblast giant cells, which invade the uterine stroma and ultimately contribute to the chorio-allantoic placenta, and the parietal endoderm, which migrates over the inner surface of the trophoblast and ultimately forms Reichert's membrane and the parietal yolk sac. Experiments were done in serum-free medium on substrates coated with laminin (Ln) and fibronectin (Fn). Trophoblast outgrowth occurs on Ln and its E8 fragment (long arm), but not on the E1’ fragment (cross region) (Figs. 1, 2 ). This outgrowth is inhibited by anti-E8, anti-Ln, and by the anti-β1 family antiserum anti-ECMR, but not by anti-αV or the function-perturbing GoH3 antibody that recognizes the α6/β1 integrin, a major Ln (E8) receptor. This suggests that trophoblast outgrowth on Ln or E8 is mediated by a different β1 integrin such as α3/β1. Early stages of trophoblast outgrowth (up to 48 hours) on Fn are inhibited by anti-Fn and by function-perturbing anti-αV antibodies, whereas at later times outgrowth becomes insensitive to anti-αV but remains sensitive to the anti-β1 family antiserum anti-ECMr, indicating that trophoblast cells modulate their interaction with Fn during outgrowth. Trophoblast outgrowth on vitronectin (Vn) is sensitive to anti-αV antibodies throughout the 5-day period examined.

scholarly journals ESCs injected into the 8-cell stage mouse embryo modify pattern of cleavage and cell lineage specification

2016 ◽  
Vol 141 ◽  
pp. 40-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Humięcka ◽  
Magdalena Krupa ◽  
Maria M. Guzewska ◽  
Marek Maleszewski ◽  
Aneta Suwińska
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Embryo ◽  
Cell Lineage ◽  
Lineage Specification ◽  
Cell Stage

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal dynamics of OCT4 protein localization during preimplantation development in mice

Reproduction ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 152 (5) ◽  
pp. 417-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsushi Fukuda ◽  
Atsushi Mitani ◽  
Toshiyuki Miyashita ◽  
Hisato Kobayashi ◽  
Akihiro Umezawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Localization ◽  
Splice Variants ◽  
Protein Localization ◽  
Preimplantation Development ◽  
Preimplantation Embryos ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Oct4 Protein

Spatiotemporal expression of transcription factors is crucial for genomic reprogramming. Pou5f1 (Oct4) is an essential transcription factor for reprogramming. A recent study reported that OCT4A, which is crucial for establishment and maintenance of pluripotent cells, is expressed in oocytes, but maternal OCT4A is dispensable for totipotency induction. Whereas another study reported that OCT4B, which is not related to pluripotency, is predominantly expressed instead of OCT4A during early preimplantation phases in mice. To determine the expression states of OCT4 in murine preimplantation embryos, we conducted in-depth expression and functional analyses. We found that pluripotency-related OCT4 mainly localizes to the cytoplasm in early preimplantation phases, with no major nuclear localization until the 8–16-cell stage despite high expression in both oocytes and early embryos. RNA-sequencing analysis using oocytes and early preimplantation embryos could not identify the splice variants creating alternative forms of OCT4 protein. Forced expression of OCT4 in zygotes by the injection of polyadenylated mRNA clearly showed nuclear localization of OCT4 protein around 3–5-fold greater than physiological levels and impaired developmental competency in a dose-dependent manner. Embryos with modest overexpression of OCT4 could develop to the 16-cell stage; however, more than 50% of the embryos were arrested at this stage, similar to the results for OCT4 depletion. In contrast, extensive overexpression of OCT4 resulted in complete arrest at the 2-cell stage accompanied by downregulation of zygotically activated genes and repetitive elements related to the totipotent state. These results demonstrated that OCT4 protein localization was spatiotemporally altered during preimplantation development, and strict control of Oct4 protein levels was essential for proper totipotential reprogramming.

Expression of the HSP 70.1 gene, a landmark of early zygotic activity in the mouse embryo, is restricted to the first burst of transcription

Development ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Christians ◽  
E. Campion ◽  
E.M. Thompson ◽  
J.P. Renard
Keyword(s):  
Dna Replication ◽  
Mouse Embryo ◽  
Culture Conditions ◽  
Hsp 70 ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Embryonic Genome ◽  
Genome Activation ◽  
Alpha Amanitin ◽  
Zygotic Genome

Activation of the mouse embryonic genome at the 2-cell stage is characterized by the synthesis of several alpha-amanitin-sensitive polypeptides, some of which belong to the multigenic hsp 70 family. In the present work we show that a member of this family, the HSP 70.1 gene, is highly transcribed at the onset of zygotic genome activation. Transcription of this gene began as early as the 1-cell stage. Expression of the gene continued through the early 2-cell stage but was repressed before the completion of the second round of DNA replication. During this period we observed that the level of transcription was modulated by in vitro culture conditions. The coincidence of repression of HSP70.1 transcription with the second round of DNA replication was not found for other transcription-dependent polypeptides synthesized at the 2-cell stage.

Incorporation of Uridine in Cleavage Stage Eggs of the Sea Urchin Paracentrotus Lividus

1971 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 816-821 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry E. Bockstahler
Keyword(s):  
Ion Exchange ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Paracentrotus Lividus ◽  
Cleavage Stage ◽  
Early Cleavage ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Cleavage Stages ◽  
Layer Chromatography

Incorporation of uridine in cleavage stage eggs of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus was investigated. It was shown by ion exchange and thin layer chromatography that most of the uridine taken up during the 16-cell stage was converted into UTP with some incorporation into UDP and UMP. Conversion of uridine to these phosphorylated nucleosides occurred throughout early cleavage stages. A very small amount of uridine taken up by cleavage stage eggs is incorporated into RNA heterogeneous in size. This RNA was examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

scholarly journals IGF-2 receptors are first expressed at the 2-cell stage of mouse development

Development ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 111 (4) ◽  
pp. 1057-1060
Author(s):  
M.B. Harvey ◽  
P.L. Kaye
Keyword(s):  
Preimplantation Development ◽  
Mouse Development ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Receptor Mrna ◽  
Embryonic Genome

A specific IGF-2 receptor antiserum was used to reveal the presence of IGF-2 receptors during preimplantation development of mice. Receptors were present on 2-, 4- and 8-cell embryos, morulae, blastocysts, and on ICMs isolated prior to staining. There was no evidence for receptors on fertilized eggs. These observations confirm reports of the expression of IGF-2 receptor mRNA as early as the 2-cell stage and refine similar observations in blastocysts to confirm expression in both the TE and ICM. A potential auto/paracrine loop is thus one of the first products of activation of the embryonic genome and is expressed constitutively through preimplantation development.

scholarly journals 131DIFFERENTIAL DNA METHYLATION CHANGES OF THE REPETITIVE SEQUENCES DURING PREIMPLANTATION DEVELOPMENT IN THE MOUSE

2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 188
Author(s):  
S.-H. Kim ◽  
Y.-K. Kang ◽  
D.-B. Koo ◽  
M.-J. Kang ◽  
K.-K. Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Repetitive Sequences ◽  
Dna Demethylation ◽  
Preimplantation Development ◽  
Mouse Development ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Paternal Genome ◽  
Satellite Sequences ◽  
Centromeric Satellite ◽  
Morula Stage

DNA demethylation as an epigenetic change is a unique event genome-wide, occurring at preimplantation and germ cell stages during mouse development. The paternal genome after fertilization is demethylated first, referred to active demethylation, followed by demethylation of the maternal genome during preimplantation development in the mouse. To examine methylation changes in the early mouse embryo, methylation states of various genomic regions such as intracisternal A-particle (IAP), early retrotransposon (Etn) and centromeric satellite sequences were determined by means of a bisulfite sequencing method. For methylation analysis, genomic DNA was first isolated from each developmental stage of embryo (about 300 cells in total), respectively, and exposed to 1.9M sodium bisulfite overnight. Targeted DNA sequences were amplified from bisulfite-treated genomic DNAs by PCR, cloned into pGEM T-easy vector and sequenced. Results indicated that IAP sequences maintained high levels of methylation until the morula stage and were demethylated in blastocysts. In contrast to the IAP sequences, methylation states of Etn elements were remarkably erased after fertilization, completely demethylated at the 8-cell stage and then remethylated at the morula stage. Centromeric satellite sequences showed low methylation states throughout all preimplantation stages of embryos, indicating that the satellite sequences are substantially demethylated in both paternal and maternal genomes. The results suggest that differential epifenetic changes among the repetitive sequences may be responsible for peculiar chromatin structure of respective genomic loci and/or may regulate gene expression during preimplantation development in the mouse.

Regulation of desmocollin transcription in mouse preimplantation embryos

Development ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 743-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.E. Collins ◽  
J.E. Lorimer ◽  
D.R. Garrod ◽  
S.C. Pidsley ◽  
R.S. Buxton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Expression ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Inner Cell Mass ◽  
Splice Variants ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Preimplantation Embryos ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Cleavage Stages

The molecular mechanisms regulating the biogenesis of the first desmosomes to form during mouse embryogenesis have been studied. A sensitive modification of a reverse transcriptase-cDNA amplification procedure has been used to detect transcripts of the desmosomal adhesive cadherin, desmocollin. Sequencing of cDNA amplification products confirmed that two splice variants, a and b, of the DSC2 gene are transcribed coordinately. Transcripts were identified in unfertilized eggs and cumulus cells and in cleavage stages up to the early 8-cell stage, were never detected in compact 8-cell embryos, but were evident again either from the 16-cell morula or very early blastocyst (approx 32-cells) stages onwards. These two phases of transcript detection indicate DSC2 is encoded by maternal and embryonic genomes. Previously, we have shown that desmocollin protein synthesis is undetectable in eggs and cleavage stages but initiates at the early blastocyst stage when desmocollin localises at, and appears to regulate assembly of, nascent desmosomes that form in the trophectoderm but not in the inner cell mass (Fleming, T. P., Garrod, D. R. and Elsmore, A. J. (1991), Development 112, 527–539). Maternal DSC2 mRNA is therefore not translated and presumably is inherited by blastomeres before complete degradation. Our results suggest, however, that initiation of embryonic DSC2 transcription regulates desmocollin protein expression and thereby desmosome formation. Moreover, data from blastocyst single cell analyses suggest that embryonic DSC2 transcription is specific to the trophectoderm lineage. Inhibition of E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion did not influence the timing of DSC2 embryonic transcription and protein expression. However, isolation and culture of inner cell masses induced an increase in the amount of DSC2 mRNA and protein detected. Taken together, these results suggest that the presence of a contact-free cell surface activates DSC2 transcription in the mouse early embryo.

DNA replication and compaction in the cleaving embryo of the mouse

Development ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-148
Author(s):  
Roger K. W. Smith ◽  
Martin H. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Dna Replication ◽  
Dna Polymerase ◽  
Mouse Embryo ◽  
Cell Number ◽  
Reversible Inhibitor ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Dna Polymerase Alpha ◽  
Surface Polarization ◽  
Continuous Presence ◽  
Almost All

The effects of aphidicolin, a reversible inhibitor of DNA polymerase alpha, both on replication and on development of the mouse embryo from the 2- and 4-cell stages to the compacted late 8-cell stage have been assessed. The continuous presence of aphidicolin from G1 of the 4-cell stage resulted in inhibition of DNA replication and prevention of division from 4 to 8 cells, but was without effect on the timing or incidence of cell flattening, surface polarization and cytoplasmic polarization. The continuous presence of aphidicolin from G1 of the 2-cell stage resulted in inhibition of DNA replication, division, and polarization. Some slight intercellular flattening in a few embryos did occur. If addition of aphidicolin was delayed by 10 h to early in G2 of the 2-cell stage, further rounds of replication were blocked and some embryos failed to cleave to 4-cells. Nevertheless, almost all embryos showed evidence of flattening and polarization regardless of cell number. In contrast, if aphidicolin was added in G1 of the 2-cell stage and removed after 10 h, the cells showed delayed DNA replication, little evidence of division, and no cell flattening or polarization. We conclude that DNA replication at the 2-cell stage may be essential for the components of compaction studied, but that DNA replication at the 4- and 8-cell stages is not.

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