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Journal of Biochemistry Advance Access originally published online on January 22, 2008
Journal of Biochemistry 2008 143(3):279-286; doi:10.1093/jb/mvn001
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© 2008 The Japanese Biochemical Society.

JB Minireviews-Functional Dynamics of the Nucleus

Capturing Epigenetic Dynamics During Pre-implantation Development Using Live Cell Imaging

Kazuo Yamagata*

Laboratory for Genomic Reprogramming, Center for Developmental Biology, RIKEN-Kobe, Minatojima-minamimachi 2-2-3, Chuo-ku, Kobe city, 651-0047, Hyogo Japan

*To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +81-78-306-3094, Fax: +81-78-306-3095, E-mail: yamagata{at}cdb.riken.jp

Received November 30, 2007; Accepted December 7, 2007


  Abstract

During mammalian fertilization and pre-implantation development, the highly differentiated gametes revert to undifferentiated cell types following syngamy and then gradually differentiate into individual cell lineages. These processes involve changes in male and female gamete chromatin structure, in global epigenetic modifications and in nuclear architecture. We have developed a live cell imaging technique for oocytes and early embryos to understand these series of phenomena. Using this technique, we were able to observe dynamic changes in DNA methylation status in living embryos. Furthermore, epigenetic abnormalities were detected in reconstructed embryos generated by round spermatid injection or by somatic cell nuclear transfer. In this review, I will discuss the usefulness and possibilities of this imaging technique in studies on nuclear dynamics during fertilization and pre-implantation development.

Key Words: DNA methylation, epigenetics, live cell imaging, pre-implantation development, somatic cell nuclear transfer


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