Pluto Bioinformatics

GSE90710: Mediator complex component MED13 regulates zygotic genome activation and is required for postimplantation development

Bulk RNA sequencing

Understanding the factors that regulate the transition from oocyte to embryo is critical for determining how cells are reprogrammed to become totipotent or pluripotent. Although factors that can reprogram somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells have been discovered, we have limited information regarding how this process occurs physiologically in vivo. Here we identified a specific mediator complex subunit, the kinase domain subunit MED13, as being recruited for translation during oocyte maturation and transcribed very early from the zygotic genome. Both knockdown and conditional knockout genetic approaches demonstrate that MED13 is absolutely essential for zygotic genome activation in the mouse in part through regulation of the embryo-specific chromatin remodeling complex, esBAF. This role is mediated by interactions with E2F family transcription factors. In addition to MED13, its paralog, MED13L, is also required for successful preimplantation embryo development. Although MED13L can partially compensate for loss of MED13 function, post-implantation embryo development is not rescued by MED13L because the pluripotency factor NANOG is not expressed at normal levels. Our data demonstrate for the first time an essential role for MED13 in supporting chromatin reprogramming and directed transcription of essential genes during zygotic genome activation SOURCE: Carmen,J,Williams (williamsc5@niehs.nih.gov) - Reproductive & Developmental Toxicology NIH/NIEHS