Abstracts (poster) - Wissenschaft Online

Maria Elena Torres-Padilla
Epigenetic mechanisms in early mouse development
The early preimplantation mouse embryo is a unique system where it is possible to
explore the foundations of totipotency and differentiation. Following fertilisation, a single
cell, the zygote, will give rise to all tissues of the organism. The first signs of
differentiation in the embryo are evident at the blastocyst stage with the formation of
the trophectoderm, a differentiated tissue that envelopes the inner cell mass. Although
the cells of the preimplantation embryo are totipotent, as the embryo develops some
differences appear to develop between them which are, at least partially, related to the
epigenetic information of each of these cells. We have previously shown that specific
histone marks might predispose cells in the embryo towards the inner cell mass
compartment.We are currently investigating the mechanisms that underlie chromatin
plasticity in the early embryo and the processes that regulate this first cell fate decision.
We are interested in identifying new players involved in the establishment of the
chromatin structure in the preimplantation mouse embryo. We will present our new
results on such players, including chromatin modifiying enzymes and their impact in
embryonic development.
contact:
Dr Maria Elena Torres-Padilla
IGBMC
metp@igbmc.u-strasbg.fr
1 Rue Laurent Fries
67404 Illkirch (France)