Analysis of gene expression of human preimplantation embryos for the development of a strategy for maintenance of the morulas epigenetic stage

• Grant number: 20/16612-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2021
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Human and Medical Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Lygia da Veiga Pereira
• Grantee: Ana Elisa Ribeiro Orsi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/02096-4 - Assessment of X chromosome inactivation status in human blastoids, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

In placental mammals, the inactivation of extra copies of the X chromosome is essential for the viability of females embryos. Despite being well described in the mouse, the X silencing process in preimplantation human embryos is yet to be elucidated. In 2017, de Mello et al. suggested the culture of human morulae cells as an ideal model for the study of embryonic dose compensation. Therefore, we intend to assess the gene expression in the human morula, so as to detect genetic signatures that characterise it. Based on this data, we propose the development of a cell lineage suitable for the study of X chromosome inactivation in vitro from human morulae. For such, both computational and experimental techniques will be employed. (AU)