RETRACTED: Cdx2 gene expression and trophectoderm lineage specification in mouse embryos.
Controversy exists as to whether individual blastomeres from two-cell-stage mouse embryos have identical developmental properties and fate. We show that the transcription factor Cdx2 is expressed in the nuclei of cells derived from the late-dividing but not the first-dividing blastomere of two-cell embryos and, by lineage tracing and RNA interference knock-down experiments, that this lagging cell is the precursor of trophectoderm. Cdx2 mRNA is localized toward the vegetal pole of oocytes, reorients after fertilization, and becomes concentrated in the late-dividing, two-cell-stage blastomere. The asymmetrical distribution of Cdx2 gene products in the oocyte and embryo defines the lineage to trophectoderm.
Department of Animal Sciences, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
Kaushik
K
Deb
Mayandi
M
Sivaguru
Hwan Yul
HY
Yong
R Michael
RM
Roberts
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology; D001757:Blastomeres / Q000502:physiology*; D000071616:CDX2 Transcription Factor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D016764:Cell Polarity; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000502:physiology*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005306:Fertilization; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D009028:Morula / Q000502:physiology; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D015053:Zygote / Q000502:physiology
D000071616:CDX2 Transcription Factor; C487514:Cdx2 protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014157:Transcription Factors