The Inheritance and Reprogramming of Epigenetic Information During Mammalian Early Embryogenesis
Lu Xukun, Li Yuanyuan, Xie Wei*
After fertilization, the highly differentiated sperm and oocyte are reprogrammed to a totipotent embryo, which subsequently develop into an individual through spatio-temporal cleavage and differentiation. How this process is accomplished is one of the most fundamental and key questions in reproductive biology, developmental biology and general biology. Recently, thanks to rapid development of technologies, the molecular bases underlying these events begin to be unfolded with unprecedented depth and resolution. Epigenetic reprogramming plays critical roles in these processes to facilitate the parental-to-zygotic transition. Epigenetic information, including DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin accessibility and higher order chromatin structure, is extensively reset and reestablished during mammalian gametogenesis and early embryogenesis. Additionally, some epigenetic information can also be transmitted from parents to the offspring. In the review, we summarize recent progress in understanding epigenetic inheritance and reprogramming during mammalian early development, and their underlying mechanisms and biological implications.
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