title: Epigenetic dynamics during preimplantation development.
abstract: Successful mammalian development requires descendants of single-cell zygotes to differentiate into diverse cell types even though they contain the same genetic material. Preimplantation dynamics are first driven by the necessity of reprogramming haploid parental epigenomes to reach a totipotent state. This process requires extensive erasure of epigenetic marks shortly after fertilization. During the few short days after formation of the zygote, epigenetic programs are established and are essential for the first lineage decisions and differentiation. Here we review the current understanding of DNA methylation and histone modification dynamics responsible for these early changes during mammalian preimplantation development. In particular, we highlight insights that have been gained through next-generation sequencing technologies comparing human embryos to other models as well as the recent discoveries of active DNA demethylation mechanisms at play during preimplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary and Animal ScienceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst, 661 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Chelsea
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marcho
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary and Animal ScienceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst, 661 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary and Animal ScienceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst, 661 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA jmager@vasci.umass.edu.
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mager
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D019175:DNA Methylation; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006657:Histones