Transcriptome analysis of rhesus monkey embryos

The goal of this study was to discover the underlying mechanisms that drive major changes in gene regulation during preimplantation development in the rhesus monkey. RNAseq data were collected from preimplantation stages (8-cell, morula, blastocyst), and used in conjunction with data from metaphase II stage oocytes to characterize individual gene expression profiles during preimplantation development, identify major groups of co-regulated genes, and identify likely upstream factors driving that gene regulation. Embryos were cultured following in vitro fertilization as described and lysed for analysis at specific stages. Overall design: Transcriptomes of rhesus monkey MII oocytes, and 8-cell, morula, and blastocyst embryos were compared using RNAseq.

本研究旨在揭示驱动恒河猴植入前发育过程中基因调控发生重大改变的潜在分子机制。研究人员从植入前发育阶段（8细胞期、桑椹胚期、囊胚期）采集RNA测序（RNAseq）数据，并结合减数分裂II期卵母细胞的相关数据，对植入前发育过程中的单基因表达谱进行表征，鉴定出核心协同调控基因簇，并识别出可能介导该基因调控过程的上游调控因子。本研究按照既定方案对体外受精获得的胚胎进行体外培养，并在特定发育阶段裂解胚胎以开展分析。整体实验设计：通过RNAseq对恒河猴减数分裂II期卵母细胞、8细胞期、桑椹胚期及囊胚期胚胎的转录组进行比较分析。