Maternal SMCHD1 regulates Hox gene expression and patterning in the mouse embryo
- Author(s)
- Benetti, N; Gouil, Q; Tapia Del Fierro, A; Beck, T; Breslin, K; Keniry, A; McGlinn, E; Blewitt, ME;
- Details
- Publication Year 2022-07-25,Volume 13,Issue #1,Page 4295
- Journal Title
- Nature Communications
- Abstract
- Parents transmit genetic and epigenetic information to their offspring. Maternal effect genes regulate the offspring epigenome to ensure normal development. Here we report that the epigenetic regulator SMCHD1 has a maternal effect on Hox gene expression and skeletal patterning. Maternal SMCHD1, present in the oocyte and preimplantation embryo, prevents precocious activation of Hox genes post-implantation. Without maternal SMCHD1, highly penetrant posterior homeotic transformations occur in the embryo. Hox genes are decorated with Polycomb marks H2AK119ub and H3K27me3 from the oocyte throughout early embryonic development; however, loss of maternal SMCHD1 does not deplete these marks. Therefore, we propose maternal SMCHD1 acts downstream of Polycomb marks to establish a chromatin state necessary for persistent epigenetic silencing and appropriate Hox gene expression later in the developing embryo. This is a striking role for maternal SMCHD1 in long-lived epigenetic effects impacting offspring phenotype.
- Publisher
- NPG
- Keywords
- Animals; Chromatin/genetics; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/genetics/metabolism; Embryo, Mammalian/metabolism; Female; Gene Expression; *Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; *Genes, Homeobox; Mice; Polycomb-Group Proteins/genetics/metabolism; Pregnancy
- Research Division(s)
- Epigenetics And Development
- PubMed ID
- 35879318
- Publisher's Version
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32057-x
- Open Access at Publisher's Site
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32057-x- NHMRC Grants
- NHMRC/1194345, NHMRC/GNT1098290,
- Terms of Use/Rights Notice
- Refer to copyright notice on published article.
Creation Date: 2022-08-08 09:15:41
Last Modified: 2022-08-08 09:30:22