Acquisition of a transcriptionally permissive state during the 1-cell stage of mouse embryogenesis.
Zygotic gene transcription initiates during the 2-cell stage of mouse embryogenesis. To learn more of the nature and timing of events leading up to transcriptional activation, we evaluated the ability of enucleated 1-cell-stage embryos to support transcription of the 2-cell-stage-specific gene(s) encoding the 70,000-Da transcription-requiring complex (TRC). Nuclei were transplanted from transcriptionally inhibited alpha-amanitin or N-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide (H8)-treated 2-cell-stage embryos to either late or early enucleated 1-cell-stage recipients. Expression of the TRC gene(s) was much greater following transfer to late 1-cell than early 1-cell-stage recipients. In addition, treatment of early 1-cell-stage recipients with N6-monobutyryl cyclic AMP following transplantation of a nucleus from an H8-treated donor increased the rate of TRC synthesis to a value similar to that observed for late 1-cell-stage recipients. These results indicate that during the first cell cycle and prior to initiation of zygotic gene expression, the embryonic cytoplasm undergoes a transition from a transcriptionally nonpermissive to permissive state.
Latham
K E
KE
Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Solter
D
D
Schultz
R M
RM
D000546:Amanitins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D015053:Zygote / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D000546:Amanitins; D007546:Isoquinolines; C002373:monobutyryl cyclic AMP; D003994:Bucladesine; C053177:N-(2-(methylamino)ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide; D011494:Protein Kinases