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Zou Z, Wang Q, Wu X, Schultz RM, Xie W. Kick-starting the zygotic genome: licensors, specifiers, and beyond. EMBO Rep 2024:10.1038/s44319-024-00223-5. [PMID: 39160344 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00223-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Zygotic genome activation (ZGA), the first transcription event following fertilization, kickstarts the embryonic program that takes over the control of early development from the maternal products. How ZGA occurs, especially in mammals, is poorly understood due to the limited amount of research materials. With the rapid development of single-cell and low-input technologies, remarkable progress made in the past decade has unveiled dramatic transitions of the epigenomes, transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes associated with ZGA. Moreover, functional investigations are yielding insights into the key regulators of ZGA, among which two major classes of players are emerging: licensors and specifiers. Licensors would control the permission of transcription and its timing during ZGA. Accumulating evidence suggests that such licensors of ZGA include regulators of the transcription apparatus and nuclear gatekeepers. Specifiers would instruct the activation of specific genes during ZGA. These specifiers include key transcription factors present at this stage, often facilitated by epigenetic regulators. Based on data primarily from mammals but also results from other species, we discuss in this review how recent research sheds light on the molecular regulation of ZGA and its executors, including the licensors and specifiers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoning Zou
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Qiuyan Wang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Xi Wu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
- Peking University-Tsinghua University-National Institute of Biological Sciences (PTN) Joint Graduate Program, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China
| | - Richard M Schultz
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Wei Xie
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Matsuzaki H, Takahashi T, Kuramochi D, Hirakawa K, Tanimoto K. Five nucleotides found in RCTG motifs are essential for post-fertilization methylation imprinting of the H19 ICR in YAC transgenic mice. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:7236-7253. [PMID: 37334871 PMCID: PMC10415150 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Genomic imprinting at the mouse Igf2/H19 locus is controlled by the H19 ICR, within which paternal allele-specific DNA methylation originating in sperm is maintained throughout development in offspring. We previously found that a 2.9 kb transgenic H19 ICR fragment in mice can be methylated de novo after fertilization only when paternally inherited, despite its unmethylated state in sperm. When the 118 bp sequence responsible for this methylation in transgenic mice was deleted from the endogenous H19 ICR, the methylation level of its paternal allele was significantly reduced after fertilization, suggesting the activity involving this 118 bp sequence is required for methylation maintenance at the endogenous locus. Here, we determined protein binding to the 118 bp sequence using an in vitro binding assay and inferred the binding motif to be RCTG by using a series of mutant competitors. Furthermore, we generated H19 ICR transgenic mice with a 5-bp substitution mutation that disrupts the RCTG motifs within the 118 bp sequence, and observed loss of methylation from the paternally inherited transgene. These results indicate that imprinted methylation of the H19 ICR established de novo during the post-fertilization period involves binding of specific factors to distinct sequence motifs within the 118 bp sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitomi Matsuzaki
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - Takuya Takahashi
- Graduate school of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - Daichi Kuramochi
- Graduate school of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Hirakawa
- Graduate school of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - Keiji Tanimoto
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
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Lismer A, Kimmins S. Emerging evidence that the mammalian sperm epigenome serves as a template for embryo development. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2142. [PMID: 37059740 PMCID: PMC10104880 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37820-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Although more studies are demonstrating that a father's environment can influence child health and disease, the molecular mechanisms underlying non-genetic inheritance remain unclear. It was previously thought that sperm exclusively contributed its genome to the egg. More recently, association studies have shown that various environmental exposures including poor diet, toxicants, and stress, perturbed epigenetic marks in sperm at important reproductive and developmental loci that were associated with offspring phenotypes. The molecular and cellular routes that underlie how epigenetic marks are transmitted at fertilization, to resist epigenetic reprogramming in the embryo, and drive phenotypic changes are only now beginning to be unraveled. Here, we provide an overview of the state of the field of intergenerational paternal epigenetic inheritance in mammals and present new insights into the relationship between embryo development and the three pillars of epigenetic inheritance: chromatin, DNA methylation, and non-coding RNAs. We evaluate compelling evidence of sperm-mediated transmission and retention of paternal epigenetic marks in the embryo. Using landmark examples, we discuss how sperm-inherited regions may escape reprogramming to impact development via mechanisms that implicate transcription factors, chromatin organization, and transposable elements. Finally, we link paternally transmitted epigenetic marks to functional changes in the pre- and post-implantation embryo. Understanding how sperm-inherited epigenetic factors influence embryo development will permit a greater understanding related to the developmental origins of health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariane Lismer
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Sarah Kimmins
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada.
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, QC, H2X 0A9, Canada.
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Pfeifer GP, Szabó PE. The link between 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and DNA demethylation in early embryos. Epigenomics 2023; 15:335-339. [PMID: 37191057 PMCID: PMC10242432 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2023-0104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gerd P Pfeifer
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Piroska E Szabó
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
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Matsuzaki H, Sugihara S, Tanimoto K. The transgenic IG-DMR sequence of the mouse Dlk1-Dio3 domain acquired imprinted DNA methylation during the post-fertilization period. Epigenetics Chromatin 2023; 16:7. [PMID: 36797774 PMCID: PMC9936741 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-023-00482-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allele-specific methylation of the imprinting control region (ICR) is the molecular basis for the genomic imprinting phenomenon that is unique to placental mammals. We previously showed that the ICR at the mouse H19 gene locus (H19 ICR) was unexpectedly established after fertilization and not during spermatogenesis in transgenic mice (TgM), and that the same activity was essential for the maintenance of paternal methylation of the H19 ICR at the endogenous locus in pre-implantation embryos. To examine the universality of post-fertilization imprinted methylation across animal species or imprinted loci, we generated TgM with two additional sequences. RESULTS The rat H19 ICR, which is very similar in structure to the mouse H19 ICR, unexpectedly did not acquire imprinted methylation even after fertilization, suggesting a lack of essential sequences in the transgene fragment. In contrast, the mouse IG-DMR, the methylation of which is acquired during spermatogenesis at the endogenous locus, did not acquire methylation in the sperm of TgM, yet became highly methylated in blastocysts after fertilization, but only when the transgene was paternally inherited. Since these two sequences were evaluated at the same genomic site by employing the transgene co-placement strategy, it is likely that the phenotype reflects the intrinsic activity of these fragments rather than position-effect variegation. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggested that post-fertilization imprinted methylation is a versatile mechanism for protecting paternal imprinted methylation from reprogramming during the pre-implantation period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitomi Matsuzaki
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tennoudai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan
| | - Shokichi Sugihara
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan
| | - Keiji Tanimoto
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tennoudai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan.
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Wei A, Wu H. Mammalian DNA methylome dynamics: mechanisms, functions and new frontiers. Development 2022; 149:dev182683. [PMID: 36519514 PMCID: PMC10108609 DOI: 10.1242/dev.182683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation is a highly conserved epigenetic modification that plays essential roles in mammalian gene regulation, genome stability and development. Despite being primarily considered a stable and heritable epigenetic silencing mechanism at heterochromatic and repetitive regions, whole genome methylome analysis reveals that DNA methylation can be highly cell-type specific and dynamic within proximal and distal gene regulatory elements during early embryonic development, stem cell differentiation and reprogramming, and tissue maturation. In this Review, we focus on the mechanisms and functions of regulated DNA methylation and demethylation, highlighting how these dynamics, together with crosstalk between DNA methylation and histone modifications at distinct regulatory regions, contribute to mammalian development and tissue maturation. We also discuss how recent technological advances in single-cell and long-read methylome sequencing, along with targeted epigenome-editing, are enabling unprecedented high-resolution and mechanistic dissection of DNA methylome dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Wei
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Daigneault BW. Insights to maternal regulation of the paternal genome in mammalian livestock embryos: A mini-review. Front Genet 2022; 13:909804. [PMID: 36061209 PMCID: PMC9437210 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.909804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This mini-review focuses on current knowledge regarding maternal regulation of the paternal genome in early embryos of mammalian livestock species. Emphasis has been placed on regulatory events described for maternally imprinted genes and further highlights transcriptional regulation of the post-fertilization paternal genome by maternal factors. Specifically, the included content aims to summarize genomic and epigenomic contributions of paternally expressed genes, their regulation by the maternal embryo environment, and chromatin structure that are indispensable for early embryo development. The accumulation of current knowledge will summarize conserved allelic function among species to include molecular and genomic studies across large domestic animals and humans with reference to founding experimental animal models.
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Early Expression of Tet1 and Tet2 in Mouse Zygotes Altered DNA Methylation Status and Affected Embryonic Development. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158495. [PMID: 35955629 PMCID: PMC9369288 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Ten-eleven translocation (Tet) dioxygenases can induce DNA demethylation by catalyzing 5-methylcytosine(5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine(5hmC), and play important roles during mammalian development. In mouse, Tet1 and Tet2 are not expressed in pronucleus-staged embryos and are not involved in the genomic demethylation of early zygotes. Here, we investigated the influence of Tet1 and Tet2 on methylation of parental genomes by ectopically expressing Tet1 and Tet2 in zygotes. Immunofluorescence staining showed a marked 5hmC increase in the maternal pronucleus after injection of Tet1 or Tet2 mRNA into zygotes. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing further revealed that Tet2 greatly enhanced the global demethylation of both parental genomes, while Tet1 only promoted the paternal demethylation. Tet1 and Tet2 overexpression altered the DNA methylation across genomes, including various genic elements and germline-specific differently methylated regions. Tet2 exhibited overall stronger demethylation activity than Tet1. Either Tet1 or Tet2 overexpression impaired preimplantation embryonic development. These results demonstrated that early expression of Tet1 and Tet2 could substantially alter the zygotic methylation landscape and damage embryonic development. These findings provide new insights into understanding the function of Tet dioxygenases and the mechanism of DNA methylation in relation to embryogenesis.
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Au Yeung WK, Sasaki H. Low Input Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis with Minimal Library Amplification. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2509:233-250. [PMID: 35796967 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2380-0_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) is a high-throughput DNA sequencing-based technique that is used to determine genome-wide DNA methylation patterns at base resolution. Library construction by post-bisulfite adaptor tagging (PBAT ) extends the application of WGBS to several hundred cells and minimizes the required number of library amplification cycles. We herein describe a PBAT protocol to prepare WGBS libraries from 200 cells and introduce the outline of a downstream bioinformatic analysis. The prepared library can typically generate 800 million sequencing reads, which is sufficient to cover the human and mouse genomes approximately 15 times, using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 sequencing system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan Kin Au Yeung
- Division of Epigenomics and Development, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Sasaki
- Division of Epigenomics and Development, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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Greenberg MVC. Get Out and Stay Out: New Insights Into DNA Methylation Reprogramming in Mammals. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 8:629068. [PMID: 33490089 PMCID: PMC7817772 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.629068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebrate genomes are marked by notably high levels of 5-cytosine DNA methylation (5meC). The clearest function of DNA methylation among members of the subphylum is repression of potentially deleterious transposable elements (TEs). However, enrichment in the bodies of protein coding genes and pericentromeric heterochromatin indicate an important role for 5meC in those genomic compartments as well. Moreover, DNA methylation plays an important role in silencing of germline-specific genes. Impaired function of major components of DNA methylation machinery results in lethality in fish, amphibians and mammals. Despite such apparent importance, mammals exhibit a dramatic loss and regain of DNA methylation in early embryogenesis prior to implantation, and then again in the cells specified for the germline. In this minireview we will highlight recent studies that shine light on two major aspects of embryonic DNA methylation reprogramming: (1) The mechanism of DNA methylation loss after fertilization and (2) the protection of discrete loci from ectopic DNA methylation deposition during reestablishment. Finally, we will conclude with some extrapolations for the evolutionary underpinnings of such extraordinary events that seemingly put the genome under unnecessary risk during a particularly vulnerable window of development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxim V C Greenberg
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Jacques Monod, Université de Paris, Paris, France
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