Protein palmitoylation activate zygotic gene expression during the maternal-to-zygotic transition

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2016 Jun 24;475(2):194-201. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.05.074. Epub 2016 May 24.

Abstract

Upon fertilization, maternal factors direct development and trigger zygotic genome activation at the maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT). However, the factors that activate the zygotic program in vertebrates are not well defined. Here, we found that protein palmitoylation played an important role in acquiring transcriptional competency and orchestrating the clearance of the maternal program in zebrafish. After inhibition of protein palmitoylation, zebrafish embryos developed normally before the Mid-Blastula Transition (MBT); however, they did not initiate epiboly. Moreover, our results showed that protein palmitoylation is required to initiate the zygotic developmental program and induce clearance of the maternal program by activating miR-430 expression.

Keywords: Mid-Blastula Transition (MBT); Palmitoylation; Zebrafish; miR-430.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA Methylation
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Lipoylation*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Zebrafish / embryology*
  • Zebrafish / genetics
  • Zebrafish / metabolism
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism*
  • Zygote / growth & development
  • Zygote / metabolism*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • Mirn430 microRNA, zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins