Spatial separation of parental genomes in preimplantation mouse embryos.
We have used two different experimental approaches to demonstrate topological separation of parental genomes in preimplantation mouse embryos: mouse eggs fertilized with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeled sperm followed by detection of BrdU in early diploid embryos, and differential heterochromatin staining in mouse interspecific hybrid embryos. Separation of chromatin according to parental origin was preserved up to the four-cell embryo stage and then gradually disappeared. In F1 hybrid animals, genome separation was also observed in a proportion of somatic cells. Separate nuclear compartments during preimplantation development, when extreme chromatin remodelling occurs, and possibly in some differentiated cell types, may be associated with epigenetic reprogramming.
Mayer
W
W
Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Genetik, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
Smith
A
A
Fundele
R
R
Haaf
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002503:Centromere / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004171:Diploidy; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts; D016678:Genome; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007399:Interphase; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009035:Mothers; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015053:Zygote / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
D006570:Heterochromatin; D004247:DNA; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine