Epigenetic profile in ovarian follicles of zebrafish (Danio rerio) at different stages of development

• Grant number: 18/21422-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton
• Grantee: Natália Pires Vieira Morais de Faria
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Epigenetics is defined as modifications of the genome, which may be caused by environmental changes, but not involving substitution in the nucleotide sequence of DNA. These genome modifications affect the individual's phenotype and can be transmitted to their offspring. In fish, the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation of the ovarian follicle during oogenesis and changes in this regulation remain poorly understood. In zebrafish (Danio rerio) oocytes, as in vertebrate gametes, there is a dynamic process of reprogramming the epigenetic regulation profile. Epigenetic regulation is essential for the development of the ovarian follicle until the final maturation stage, as well as for the accumulation of transcripts of the genes of maternal effect, which has a direct impact on the development of the progeny. This process is important and specific for gametes to become able for fertilization and the formation of a viable future embryo. Thus, the objective of this project is to characterize the epigenetic profile of ovarian follicles in the different stages of zebrafish development, as well as the control of the expression of the genes important for the reproductive success of the follicle and the embryo at the initial stage of development.