Keywords: Embryo, chromatin, epigenetic Internship Duration: 30/11/-1 - 30/11/-1
Head of the hosting team: Alice Jouneau
Website: Click here
Address of the host laboratory: BREED / INRAE Team Embryo and Pluripotency, Epigenetic and Environment Centre INRAE Jouy-en-Josas, Domaine de Vilvert, Bat 230-231 F-78350 Jouy-en-Josas France
Supervisor: Amelie Bonnet-GarnierE-mail: amelie.bonnet-garnier@inrae.fr Phone: 0134652379
Precise chromatin remodeling of parental genomes during early cell cycles is essential for transcriptional activation of the embryonic genome and thus for subsequent development. This activation of the genome is divided into two phases: a minor and a major in which different transcription factors are involved. In order to pursue the study of the functional organization of the genome during preimplantation embryonic development, our objectives are to analyze the spatial and temporal organization of the chromatin (more precisely epigenetic marks), in regard to these key developmental events. The objective of this internship is to study the link between (i) the initiation of transcription during the first stages of embryonic development, (ii)the transcription factors involved (pioneer factor), and (iii) the changes in the distribution of known epigenetic marks (defining a state allowing transcription notably H3K4me3, H3K27Ac) in the embryo of different mammalian species from fertilization to the first differentiations (blastocyst stage). The activation of the embryonic genome being variable between species, comparing the results obtained in mice with those obtained in cattle and/or rabbits will be of utmost interest.
Collection of mouse/rabbit/bovine embryos as well as embryo culture. Handling under a binocular magnifying glass. Protein immunostaining techniques, DNA in situ hybridization, and fluorescence imaging (observation under a confocal microscope). Technique for studying the enrichment of post-translational modifications of histones on the genome (Cut&Tag) or chromatin accessibility (ATAC-Seq) applied to small quantities of biological material.
Evolutionary epigenomic analyses in mammalian early embryos reveal species-specific innovations and conserved principles of imprinting. Lu X, et al. Sci Adv. 2021 Nov 26;7(48):eabi6178. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abi6178. Epub 2021 Nov 24. Broad histone H3K4me3 domains in mouse oocytes modulate maternal-to-zygotic transition.Dahl et al. Nature. 2016 Sep 22;537(7621):548-552. doi: 10.1038/nature19360. Three-dimensional analysis of nuclear heterochromatin distribution during early development in the rabbit. Bonnet-Garnier A, et al Chromosoma. 2018 Apr 18. doi: 10.1007/s00412-018-0671-z.
