Epigenetic reprogramming in mouse and human primordial germ cells

Abstract Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the precursors of sperm and eggs. They undergo genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming to erase epigenetic memory and reset the genomic potential for totipotency. Global DNA methylation erasure is a crucial part of epigenetic resetting when DNA methylation leve...

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Main Authors: Sun-Min Lee, M. Azim Surani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2024-12-01
Series:Experimental and Molecular Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-024-01359-z
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author Sun-Min Lee
M. Azim Surani
author_facet Sun-Min Lee
M. Azim Surani
author_sort Sun-Min Lee
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the precursors of sperm and eggs. They undergo genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming to erase epigenetic memory and reset the genomic potential for totipotency. Global DNA methylation erasure is a crucial part of epigenetic resetting when DNA methylation levels decrease across the genome to <5%. However, certain localized regions exhibit slower demethylation or resistance to reprogramming. Since DNA methylation plays a crucial role in transcriptional regulation, this depletion in PGCs requires mechanisms independent of DNA methylation to regulate transcriptional control during PGC reprogramming. Histone modifications are predicted to compensate for the loss of DNA methylation in gene regulation. Different histone modifications exhibit distinct patterns in PGCs undergoing epigenetic programming at the genomic level during PGC development in conjunction with changes in DNA methylation. Together, they contribute to PGC-specific genomic regulation. Recent findings related to these processes provide a comprehensive overview of germline epigenetic reprogramming and its importance in mouse and human PGC development. Additionally, we evaluated the extent to which in vitro culture techniques have replicated the development processes of human PGCs.
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spelling doaj-art-992d46ea86974a97a73a5ed3ff3324592024-12-29T12:11:13ZengNature Publishing GroupExperimental and Molecular Medicine2092-64132024-12-0156122578258710.1038/s12276-024-01359-zEpigenetic reprogramming in mouse and human primordial germ cellsSun-Min Lee0M. Azim Surani1Department of Physics, Konkuk UniversityWellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, Henry Wellcome Building of Cancer and Developmental Biology, University of CambridgeAbstract Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the precursors of sperm and eggs. They undergo genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming to erase epigenetic memory and reset the genomic potential for totipotency. Global DNA methylation erasure is a crucial part of epigenetic resetting when DNA methylation levels decrease across the genome to <5%. However, certain localized regions exhibit slower demethylation or resistance to reprogramming. Since DNA methylation plays a crucial role in transcriptional regulation, this depletion in PGCs requires mechanisms independent of DNA methylation to regulate transcriptional control during PGC reprogramming. Histone modifications are predicted to compensate for the loss of DNA methylation in gene regulation. Different histone modifications exhibit distinct patterns in PGCs undergoing epigenetic programming at the genomic level during PGC development in conjunction with changes in DNA methylation. Together, they contribute to PGC-specific genomic regulation. Recent findings related to these processes provide a comprehensive overview of germline epigenetic reprogramming and its importance in mouse and human PGC development. Additionally, we evaluated the extent to which in vitro culture techniques have replicated the development processes of human PGCs.https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-024-01359-z
spellingShingle Sun-Min Lee
M. Azim Surani
Epigenetic reprogramming in mouse and human primordial germ cells
Experimental and Molecular Medicine
title Epigenetic reprogramming in mouse and human primordial germ cells
title_full Epigenetic reprogramming in mouse and human primordial germ cells
title_fullStr Epigenetic reprogramming in mouse and human primordial germ cells
title_full_unstemmed Epigenetic reprogramming in mouse and human primordial germ cells
title_short Epigenetic reprogramming in mouse and human primordial germ cells
title_sort epigenetic reprogramming in mouse and human primordial germ cells
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-024-01359-z
work_keys_str_mv AT sunminlee epigeneticreprogramminginmouseandhumanprimordialgermcells
AT mazimsurani epigeneticreprogramminginmouseandhumanprimordialgermcells