Functional genomics of 5- to 8-cell stage human embryos by blastomere single-cell cDNA analysis.

TitleFunctional genomics of 5- to 8-cell stage human embryos by blastomere single-cell cDNA analysis.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsGalan, A, Montaner, D, M Póo, E, Valbuena, D, Ruiz, V, Aguilar, C, Dopazo, J, Simon, C
JournalPLoS One
Volume5
Issue10
Paginatione13615
Date Published2010 Oct 26
ISSN1932-6203
KeywordsBlastomeres; DNA, Complementary; Gene Expression Profiling; Genomics; Humans; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
Abstract

Blastomere fate and embryonic genome activation (EGA) during human embryonic development are unsolved areas of high scientific and clinical interest. Forty-nine blastomeres from 5- to 8-cell human embryos have been investigated following an efficient single-cell cDNA amplification protocol to provide a template for high-density microarray analysis. The previously described markers, characteristic of Inner Cell Mass (ICM) (n = 120), stemness (n = 190) and Trophectoderm (TE) (n = 45), were analyzed, and a housekeeping pattern of 46 genes was established. All the human blastomeres from the 5- to 8-cell stage embryo displayed a common gene expression pattern corresponding to ICM markers (e.g., DDX3, FOXD3, LEFTY1, MYC, NANOG, POU5F1), stemness (e.g., POU5F1, DNMT3B, GABRB3, SOX2, ZFP42, TERT), and TE markers (e.g., GATA6, EOMES, CDX2, LHCGR). The EGA profile was also investigated between the 5-6- and 8-cell stage embryos, and compared to the blastocyst stage. Known genes (n = 92) such as depleted maternal transcripts (e.g., CCNA1, CCNB1, DPPA2) and embryo-specific activation (e.g., POU5F1, CDH1, DPPA4), as well as novel genes, were confirmed. In summary, the global single-cell cDNA amplification microarray analysis of the 5- to 8-cell stage human embryos reveals that blastomere fate is not committed to ICM or TE. Finally, new EGA features in human embryogenesis are presented.

DOI10.1371/journal.pone.0013615
Alternate JournalPLoS One
PubMed ID21049019
PubMed Central IDPMC2964308