Maternal effect genes are transcribed in the oocyte and are essential for embryonic development. Few are known in mammals, but now Marisa Bartolomei and co-workers add Ctcf to this short list (see p. 2729). In vertebrates, CTCF regulates transcription at genomic loci by binding to enhancer and insulator sequences. In an earlier study into CTCF binding and activity at the maternally imprinted H19/Igf2 locus, the Bartolomei lab generated a transgenic mouse in which growing oocytes are specifically depleted of CTCF by RNAi. Using microarrays, they have now identified hundreds of genes that are misregulated in these CTCF-depleted oocytes. Most genes are downregulated; moreover, downregulated genes occur closer to CTCF-binding sites. Oocyte CTCF depletion, they report, delays not only meiosis onset but also the second, post-fertilisation division; it also perturbs zygotic genome activation, alters nuclear morphology and causes apoptotic early embryonic death. These abnormalities, further experiments show, are very likely to be a maternal effect caused by transcriptional, rather than chromatin, defects. Together, these findings reveal new and independent CTCF functions in oocyte and embryonic growth.
CTCF gets maternal
CTCF gets maternal. Development 15 August 2008; 135 (16): e1601. doi:
Download citation file:
Advertisement
Cited by
Development presents... live stream of our Journal Meeting

Watch a session from Development’s Journal Meeting, Unconventional and Emerging Experimental Organisms in Cell and Developmental Biology which was live on the Node Monday 18 September.
Navigating a research career with a disability

Our two recent Perspectives articles explore the lived experiences of disabled scientists in our community. Kelsey L. Anbuhl and colleagues describe the lived experiences of five biologists who share the challenges and successes of undertaking a scientific career with a disability. Whereas Jack Darius Morgan reviews the literature exploring disabled scientists’ experiences in academia.
Focus on regeneration

Tissue regeneration is a fascinating phenomenon, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying regeneration remain incompletely understood. Here, Development has collated a series of articles showcasing some of the most recent advances in regenerative biology.
Keeping up with the Node: Lab meetings

Keep up with the Node 'Lab meeting' posts as the platform regularly highlights development and stem cell biology labs from across the globe and showcases research and researchers from the community. September featured the Kerosuo lab at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, read their 'Lab meeting' article here.
Read & Publish Open Access publishing: what authors say

We have had great feedback from authors who have benefitted from our Read & Publish agreement with their institution and have been able to publish Open Access with us without paying an APC. Read what they had to say.