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Chromatin-linked determinants of zygotic genome activation

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Abstract

The merging of the maternal and paternal genomes into a single pronucleus after fertilization is accompanied by a remarkable reconfiguration of chromatin in the newly formed zygote. The first stages of embryonic chromatin remodeling take place in the absence of ongoing transcription, during a species-specific developmental time-frame. Once post-fertilization chromatin states are organized, zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is initiated, and embryonic transcripts gradually take control of development. We review here transitions in chromatin modifications associated with the onset of ZGA, and the role of transcription factors and DNA motifs in the regulation of ZGA. We propose a model of sequential chromatin remodeling events preceding ZGA, leading to the onset of embryonic transcription.

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Abbreviations

ac:

Acetylated

DNMT:

DNA methyltransferase

ES:

Embryonic stem

me:

Methylated

MZT:

Maternal zygotic transition

PRC:

Polycomb repressor complex

RNAPII:

RNA polymerase II

TCF:

T cell factor

TF:

Transcription factor

TSS:

Transcription start site

ZGA:

Zygotic genome activation

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge their sources of funding: the Carlsberg Foundation (O.Ø.), and The Research Council of Norway, The Norwegian Cancer Society, South East Health Norway and the University of Oslo (P.C.).

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  1. Stem Cell Epigenetics Laboratory, and Norwegian Center for Stem Cell Research, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, PO Box 1112 Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway

    Olga Østrup, Ingrid S. Andersen & Philippe Collas

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  1. Olga Østrup
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  2. Ingrid S. Andersen
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  3. Philippe Collas
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Correspondence to Philippe Collas.

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Østrup, O., Andersen, I.S. & Collas, P. Chromatin-linked determinants of zygotic genome activation. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 70, 1425–1437 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-012-1143-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-012-1143-x

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