title: Importin α7 is essential for zygotic genome activation and early mouse development.
abstract: Importin α is involved in the nuclear import of proteins. It also contributes to spindle assembly and nuclear membrane formation, however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we studied the function of importin α7 by gene targeting in mice and show that it is essential for early embryonic development. Embryos lacking importin α7 display a reduced ability for the first cleavage and arrest completely at the two-cell stage. We show that the zygotic genome activation is severely disturbed in these embryos. Our findings indicate that importin α7 is a new member of the small group of maternal effect genes.
authors.affiliation: Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch, Germany.
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rother
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shmidt
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Popova
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krivokharchenko
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hügel
authors.forename: Larissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vilianovich
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ridders
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tenner
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alenina
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.forename: Enno
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bader
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004261:DNA Replication; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000196:embryology; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018390:Gene Targeting; D020043:Genes, Essential / Q000235:genetics; D016678:Genome / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000378:metabolism; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010312:Parthenogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D015053:Zygote / Q000378:metabolism*; D028901:alpha Karyopherins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C558725:KPNA6 protein, mouse; D028901:alpha Karyopherins