Five leaders in the field of mammalian preimplantation embryo development provide their own perspectives on key molecular and cellular processes that mediate lineage formation during the first week of life. The first cell-fate decision involves the formation of the pluripotent inner cell mass (ICM) and extraembryonic trophectoderm (TE). The second cell-fate choice encompasses the transformation of ICM into extraembryonic primitive endoderm (PE) and pluripotent epiblast. The processes, which occur during the period of preimplantation development, serve as the foundation for subsequent developmental events such as implantation, placentation, and gastrulation. The mechanisms that regulate them are complex and involve many different factors operating spatially and temporally over several days to modulate embryonic chromatin structure, impose cellular polarity, and direct distinct gene expression programs in the first cell lineages.

Examines the roles of early acting chromatin regulators in ICM and TE formation Explores the role of RHOA subfamily of small GTPases and RHO-associated coiled-coil kinases Provides an overview on the transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms that mediate PE lineage formation and XEN cell self-renewal Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext
Dr. Jason Knott is a reproductive and developmental biologist with fifteen years of experience in mammalian embryology and stem cell biology. His research program is focused on elucidating chromatin based mechanisms that regulate gene expression programs and cell-fate determination in preimplantation embryos and embryonic stem cells. His current research focus is on understanding transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms that govern cell polarity, pluripotency, trophoblast lineage formation, and trophoblast lineage differentiation in mice, humans, and cattle.

Dr. Keith Latham is a developmental biologist with nearly three decades of experience in mammalian embryology. His research encompasses epigenetics and imprinting in the early embryo, transcriptional control, translational control, determinants of oocyte quality, and mechanisms underlying meiotic spindle formation and function. His research combines the use of diverse mouse strains, molecular assays applicable to the single cell level, and embryo micromanipulation including different forms of nuclear transfer.

Inhalt
CHD1 controls cell lineage specification through zygotic genome activation.- Chromatin remodelling proteins and cell fate decisions in mammalian preimplantation development.- Transcriptional regulation and genes involved in first lineage specification during preimplantation development.- ROCK and RHO playlist for preimplantation development: Streaming to HIPPO pathway and apicobasal polarity in the first cell differentiation.- XEN and the art of stem cell maintenance - molecular mechanisms maintaining cell fate and self-renewal in extraembryonic endoderm stem (XEN) cell lines.