A research group led by Professor Katsuhiko Hayashi of Kyushu University has identified a group of genes that form mouse eggs in collaboration with physics and chemistry research.In addition, by introducing this gene cluster into embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, we succeeded in producing a large number of egg-like cells in a short period of time.
The cytoplasm of an egg (egg cytoplasm) has a special function that controls individual developmental ability, and is also used for infertility treatment and production of cloned animals.However, many unclear points have been left about how this special egg cytoplasm is produced.
In this study, as a result of careful investigation of the process of egg formation, we identified eight genes (transcription factors) required for the formation of egg cytoplasm.Surprisingly, when the eight genes were expressed in ES cells and iPS cells, the cytoplasm grew rapidly and transformed into fertilizing egg-like cells.It was also found that reducing the number of these genes to a minimum of 8 has the same effect.By using this method, it is possible to produce a large amount of biologically and medically valuable egg cytoplasm in a shorter period of time than before.
This result is expected to elucidate the formation mechanism of egg cytoplasm necessary for individual development and to develop infertility treatment technology using artificially produced egg cytoplasm.
Paper information:[Nature] Reconstitution of the oocyte transcriptional network with transcription factors
