포유류 배아발생 중 DNA 메틸화는 세포분화와 유전자발현에서 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 그러나, 생쥐 착상전 초기배아 발생 중 메틸화효소에 의해 유지되는 DNA 메틸화의 중요성과 자세한 기작은 잘 이해되고 있지 않다. 이 연구에서 DNA 메틸화의 역할에 관하여 알아보기 위하여, 성숙난자와 착상전 초기배아에서 DNA 메틸전이효소의 발현양상을 조사하였다. 이를 위해, DNA 메틸전이효소를 암호화하고 있는 cDNA에서 primer를 고안하였다.

DNA methylation seems to play an important regulatory role in gene expression and cell differentiation during postimplantation embryonic development. However, the significance of DNA methylation which is maintained by the DNA MTase during preimplantation embryonic development, is not fully understood. In order to study the role of DNA methylation in the preimplantation embryos, the expression of DNA MTase transcripts was monitored in the oocytes and preimplantation embryos. The mRNA of DNA MTase was detected in the oocytes and pleimplantation embryos. The relative mRNA levels of DNA MTase were high from the stages of GV-oocytes and pronuclear embryos, and thereafter decreased gradually. By the treatment of -amanitin, it was confirmed that the transcripts presented in pronuclear embryos was derived from the maternal genome. The presence of transcripts of DNA MTase in the oocytes and pronuclear embryos suggests that the maintenance of DNA methylation may be necessary and seems to play an important role in gene expression and cell differentiation during preimplantation embryonic develop-ment in mouse.

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