Chromatin dynamics in Triturus cristatus oogenesis: an epigenetic approach.
Oogenesis is a critical event in the formation of female gametes, whose role in development is to transfer genomic information to the next generation. During this process, the gene expression pattern changes dramatically concomitant with genome remodelling, while genomic information is stably maintained. The aim of the present study was to investigate the chromatin architecture in newt oocytes. Using fluorescence microscopy, as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunohistochemical method and RE-ChIP assay, some peculiar aspects of chromatin and chromosome organization and evolution in crested newt oogenesis were investigated. We focussed our investigations on detection of certain epigenetic modifications (H4 hyperacetylation, H2A ubiquitinylation and cytosine methylation) at the rRNA gene (18S-5.8S-28S) promoter region. Our findings suggest that there is an involvement of some epigenetic modifications as well as of linker histone variants in chromatin architecture dynamics during crested newt oogenesis.
Burlibaşa
Liliana
L
Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania. liliana_burlibasa@yahoo.com.au
Zărnescu
Otilia
O
Cucu
Natalia
N
Gavrilă
Lucian
L
D000165:Acridine Orange; D000818:Animals; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002843:Chromatin / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D016678:Genome / Q000502:physiology; D006657:Histones / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D014319:Triturus
D002843:Chromatin; D004396:Coloring Agents; D006657:Histones; D000165:Acridine Orange