The fully linked HTML version of this article has now been published.
Development ePress online publication date 13 Jun 2007
doi: 10.1242/dev.005611
Research article
Cellular dynamics associated with the genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming in migrating primordial germ cells in mice
Yoshiyuki Seki,
Masashi Yamaji,
Yukihiro Yabuta,
Mitsue Sano,
Mayo Shigeta,
Yasuhisa Matsui,
Yumiko Saga,
Makoto Tachibana,
Yoichi Shinkai,
and
Mitinori Saitou*
* Author for correspondence (e-mail: saitou{at}cdb.riken.jp)
We previously reported that primordial germ cells (PGCs) in mice erase genome-wide DNA methylation and histone H3 lysine9 di-methylation (H3K9me2), and instead acquire high levels of tri-methylation of H3K27 (H3K27me3) during their migration, a process that might be crucial for the re-establishment of potential totipotency in the germline. We here explored a cellular dynamics associated with this epigenetic reprogramming. We found that PGCs undergo erasure of H3K9me2 and upregulation of H3K27me3 in a progressive, cell-by-cell manner, presumably depending on their developmental maturation. Before or concomitant with the onset of H3K9 demethylation, PGCs entered the G2 arrest of the cell cycle, which apparently persisted until they acquired high H3K27me3 levels. Interestingly, PGCs exhibited repression of RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription, which began after the onset of H3K9me2 reduction in the G2 phase and tapered off after the acquisition of high-level H3K27me3. The epigenetic reprogramming and transcriptional quiescence were independent from the function of Nanos3. We found that before H3K9 demethylation, PGCs exclusively repress an essential histone methyltransferase, GLP, without specifically upregulating histone demethylases. We suggest the possibility that active repression of an essential enzyme and subsequent unique cellular dynamics ensures successful implementation of genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming in migrating PGCs.

CiteULike
Complore
Connotea
Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Technorati
Twitter What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Hayashi and M. A. Surani
Self-renewing epiblast stem cells exhibit continual delineation of germ cells with epigenetic reprogramming in vitro
Development,
November 1, 2009;
136(21):
3549 - 3556.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. A. Edson, A. K. Nagaraja, and M. M. Matzuk
The Mammalian Ovary from Genesis to Revelation
Endocr. Rev.,
October 1, 2009;
30(6):
624 - 712.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
H. Yoshioka, J. R. McCarrey, and Y. Yamazaki
Dynamic Nuclear Organization of Constitutive Heterochromatin During Fetal Male Germ Cell Development in Mice
Biol Reprod,
April 1, 2009;
80(4):
804 - 812.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Nakamura and G. Seydoux
Less is more: specification of the germline by transcriptional repression
Development,
December 1, 2008;
135(23):
3817 - 3827.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. J Ross, N. P Ragina, R. M Rodriguez, A. E Iager, K. Siripattarapravat, N. Lopez-Corrales, and J. B Cibelli
Polycomb gene expression and histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation changes during bovine preimplantation development
Reproduction,
December 1, 2008;
136(6):
777 - 785.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M.A. Surani, G. Durcova-Hills, P. Hajkova, K. Hayashi, and W.W. Tee
Germ Line, Stem Cells, and Epigenetic Reprogramming
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol,
November 6, 2008;
(2008)
sqb.2008.73.015v1.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Y. Ohinata, M. Sano, M. Shigeta, K. Yamanaka, and M. Saitou
A comprehensive, non-invasive visualization of primordial germ cell development in mice by the Prdm1-mVenus and Dppa3-ECFP double transgenic reporter
Reproduction,
October 1, 2008;
136(4):
503 - 514.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
N. Mise, T. Fuchikami, M. Sugimoto, S. Kobayakawa, F. Ike, T. Ogawa, T. Tada, S. Kanaya, T. Noce, and K. Abe
Differences and similarities in the developmental status of embryo-derived stem cells and primordial germ cells revealed by global expression profiling.
Genes Cells,
August 1, 2008;
13(8):
863 - 877.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Kurimoto, Y. Yabuta, Y. Ohinata, M. Shigeta, K. Yamanaka, and M. Saitou
Complex genome-wide transcription dynamics orchestrated by Blimp1 for the specification of the germ cell lineage in mice
Genes & Dev.,
June 15, 2008;
22(12):
1617 - 1635.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. Ghosh and G. Seydoux
Inhibition of Transcription by the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline Protein PIE-1: Genetic Evidence for Distinct Mechanisms Targeting Initiation and Elongation
Genetics,
January 1, 2008;
178(1):
235 - 243.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2007