Change the potencyof early stage embryo: possible role of β-catenin

Abstract

After fertilization by the cleavage, embryos develop to 2 cell, 4 cell, 8 cell, morula and blastocyst. In mouse early stag embryos have totipotency until 8 cell stage, which is the ability to divide and produce all the differentiated cells in an organism, including extra embryonic tissues. But the blastomere of ICM have pluripotency, which is the potential to differentiate into any type of the three germ layers. These change of developmental potency is critical in the development of organisms, but time points and losing mechanisms are not examined. Also, molecular markers of decide the potency are not clarified. In this study, the role of β-catenin, which localized in early stage embryo nucleus, and related in maintain stemness and body axis formation, in developmental potency change. And analyzed of early stage embryo related genes expression pattern. Real-time RT PCR technology, recombinant CPP-β-catenin protein method, purification and quantification of recombinant protein method and treatment recombinant protein to embryos were employed to explore the roles of β-catenin. The embryos group of treated β-catenin are suppressed development after compaction but their morphology are normal. And the several kinds of gene expression patterns are changed in culture with β-catenin embryos. There are more researches are needed, based on this study it is suggested that β-catenin affect to change of developmental potency.