The X-linked imprinted gene family Fthl17 shows predominantly female expression following the two-cell stage in mouse embryos.

摘要: Differences between male and female mammals are initiated by embryonic differentiation of the gonad into either a testis or an ovary. However, this may not be sole determinant. There reports that sex might precede independent gonadal differentiation, but there is little molecular biological evidence for this. To test differences in early-stage embryos, we separated blastocysts using newly developed non-invasive sexing methods transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein compared gene-expression patterns. From screening, found Fthl17 (ferritin, heavy polypeptide-like 17) family genes was predominantly expressed blastocysts. This comprises seven cluster on X chromosome. Expression analysis based DNA polymorphisms revealed these imprinted from paternal chromosome as early two-cell stage. Thus, time zygotic genome activation starts already gene expression mouse embryos. discovery will important study clearly arise before differentiation.