Maternal SMCHD1 regulates Hox gene expression and patterning in the mouse embryo
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
Open Access at Publisher's Site
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32057-x
NHMRC Grants
NHMRC/1194345NHMRC/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
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