Dysregulation of gene expression during gastrulation results in impaired primitive erythropoiesis and vascular development in Trim71-KO embryos

During embryonic development in mice, global deficiency of Trim71 (Trim71-KO) leads to defects in vascular development of the yolk sac and impaired primitive erythropoiesis. These phenotypes start to become apparent at E9.5. We analyzed changes in gene expression by single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) in whole Trim71-KO embryos compared to wildtype embryos at an early developmental stage (E7.5, late gastrulation) to investigate the onset of these phenotypes. Furthermore, we analyzed Trim71-KO and wildtype yolk sacs at E9.5 by scRNA-seq to gain insight into the changes in gene expression at the developmental stage when vascular defects have become apparent. Overall design: Timed mating of heterozygous Trim71+/- mice was performed and embryos were isolated at E7.5 or E9.5. Genotyping of embryos for the Trim71 locus was performed using the ectoplacental cone from E7.5 embryos or the embryo tail of E9.5 embryos. Whole E7.5 Trim71+/+ and Trim71-/- embryos, or E9.5 Trim71+/+ and Trim71-/- yolk sacs were used for cell isolation and subsequent scRNA-seq.