title: Heterochromatin establishment in the context of genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming.
abstract: Heterochromatin at pericentric satellites, characterized by a specific chromatin signature and chromocenter organization, is of paramount importance for genome function. Re-establishment of this organization after fertilization takes place in the context of genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming. We review how the asymmetry in histone variants and post-translational modifications between paternal and maternal genomes and their respective pericentric heterochromatin domains evolve during early cleavage stages in mouse. We draw a parallel between these data and the burst of pericentric satellite transcription that occurs concomitantly with the dynamic reorganization of the pericentric domains into chromocenters in two-cell stage embryos. Based on this new angle, we propose that a crucial developmental transition at the two-cell stage allows chromocenter formation by involving non-coding satellite transcripts to trigger specific chromatin changes.
authors.affiliation: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 6247 and Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unité 931 - Genetics, Reproduction and Development, Clermont University, 24 avenue des Landais, 63177 Aubière CEDEX, France.
authors.forename: Aline V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Probst
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Almouzni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005718:Gametogenesis; D014644:Genetic Variation; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006570:Heterochromatin; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D006570:Heterochromatin