Single-cell DNA-methylation analysis reveals epigenetic chimerism in preimplantation embryos.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-6-2013
Keywords
Animals, Blastocyst, Chimerism, DNA Methylation, Epigenesis, Genetic, Gene Deletion, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Genetic Loci, Humans, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Transgenic, Nuclear Proteins, Nuclear Reprogramming, Repressor Proteins, Single-Cell Analysis
JAX Source
Science 2013 Sep 6; 341(6150):1110-2.
Volume
341
Issue
6150
First Page
1110
Last Page
1112
ISSN
1095-9203
PMID
24009393
Abstract
Epigenetic alterations are increasingly recognized as causes of human cancers and disease. These aberrations are likely to arise during genomic reprogramming in mammalian preimplantation embryos, when their epigenomes are most vulnerable. However, this process is only partially understood because of the experimental inaccessibility of early-stage embryos. Here, we introduce a methodologic advance, probing single cells for various DNA-methylation errors at multiple loci, to reveal failed maintenance of epigenetic mark results in chimeric mice, which display unpredictable phenotypes leading to developmental arrest. Yet we show that mouse pronuclear transfer can be used to ameliorate such reprogramming defects. This study not only details the epigenetic reprogramming dynamics in early mammalian embryos but also suggests diagnostic and potential future therapeutic applications. Science 2013 Sep 6; 341(6150):1110-2.
Recommended Citation
Lorthongpanich C,
Cheow L,
Balu S,
Quake S,
Knowles BB,
Burkholder W,
Solter D,
Messerschmidt D.
Single-cell DNA-methylation analysis reveals epigenetic chimerism in preimplantation embryos. Science 2013 Sep 6; 341(6150):1110-2.