Clin Exp Reprod Med.  2014 Jun;41(2):47-61. 10.5653/cerm.2014.41.2.47.

Maternal effect genes: Findings and effects on mouse embryo development

• Kim KH
• Lee KA

• KMID: 2049065
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5653/cerm.2014.41.2.47

Abstract

Stored maternal factors in oocytes regulate oocyte differentiation into embryos during early embryonic development. Before zygotic gene activation (ZGA), these early embryos are mainly dependent on maternal factors for survival, such as macromolecules and subcellular organelles in oocytes. The genes encoding these essential maternal products are referred to as maternal effect genes (MEGs). MEGs accumulate maternal factors during oogenesis and enable ZGA, progression of early embryo development, and the initial establishment of embryonic cell lineages. Disruption of MEGs results in defective embryogenesis. Despite their important functions, only a few mammalian MEGs have been identified. In this review we summarize the roles of known MEGs in mouse fertility, with a particular emphasis on oocytes and early embryonic development. An increased knowledge of the working mechanism of MEGs could ultimately provide a means to regulate oocyte maturation and subsequent early embryonic development.

Keyword

Embryonic development; Maternal factor; Mice; Oocytes; Zygotic gene activation

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cell Lineage
Embryonic Development*
Embryonic Structures
Female
Fertility
Mice*
Oocytes
Oogenesis
Organelles
Pregnancy
Transcriptional Activation