Epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of mouse oocytes and early embryos

In this study, we performed ChIP-seq of RNA polymerase II, phosphorylated RNA polymerase II and related epigenetic modifications to elucidate transcriptional activities of mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos. Through analyzing epigenetic alterations of transgenically-modified growing oocytes, early embryos from aged female, and early embryos treated with drugs disturbing proteostasis, we identified critical roles of proteostasis in transcriptional regulation of mouse oocytes and early embryos. We collected genetically-modified growing oocytes from P14 ovaries, early embryos cultured in KSOM with indicated drugs, or early embryos from aged female mice, removed zona pellucida, and performed ChIP-seq with optimized CUT&Tag protocol to elucidate how epigenetic modifications and transcriptional events crosstalk with each other.