Transcriptome analysis of mouse preimplantation embryos when DNA damage checkpoint is perturbed

To investigate the importance of DNA damage checkpoint regulation in mammalian preimplantation embryos, we overexpressed wild type and mutant form of CHK1 kinase in mouse zygotes and performed high-throughput RNA-sequencing of zygotes, late 2-cell embryos and blastocysts. Transcriptome analysis revealed that zygotes are particular sensitive to the perturbation of Chk1 governed DNA damage checkpoint. However, once zygotes can overcome DNA damage checkpoint induced cell cycle arrest, they can still have normal development. Microinjection of mRNA encoding wt and mutant CHK1 in early mouse zygotes, then treat with or without Chk1 inhibitor for short-term, then perform high-throughput RNA-sequencing of zygotes, late 2-cell embryos and blastocysts.