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PMID: 19536196 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

Making a firm decision: multifaceted regulation of cell fate in the early mouse embryo.

Nature reviews. Genetics ·Vol. 10 ·No. 7 ·2009-07-00 ·Pages 467-77

Zernicka-Goetz M, Morris SA, Bruce AW

Abstract

The preimplantation mammalian embryo offers a striking opportunity to address the question of how and why apparently identical cells take on separate fates. Two cell fate decisions are taken before the embryo implants; these decisions set apart a group of pluripotent cells, progenitors for the future body, from the distinct extraembryonic lineages of trophectoderm and primitive endoderm. New molecular, cellular and developmental insights reveal the interplay of transcriptional regulation, epigenetic modifications, cell position and cell polarity in these two fate decisions in the mouse. We discuss how mechanisms proposed in previously distinct models might work in concert to progressively reinforce cell fate decisions through feedback loops.

MeSH Terms
Animals Blastocyst/cytology,physiology Cell Lineage/physiology Embryo, Mammalian/cytology,physiology Epigenesis, Genetic/physiology Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/physiology Mice Pluripotent Stem Cells/cytology,physiology Transcription, Genetic/physiology
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Zernicka-Goetz Magdalena
The Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK. m.zernicka-goetz@
Morris Samantha A
Bruce Alexander W
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Article Info
Journal
Nature reviews. Genetics
Abbr.
Nat Rev Genet
ISSN
1471-0064
DOI
10.1038/nrg2564
Published
2009-07-00
Pages
467-77
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
100962779
Subset
IM
Grants
Wellcome Trust · 064421 · United Kingdom
Medical Research Council · G0300723 · United Kingdom
Medical Research Council · G0800784 · United Kingdom
Corrections
CommentIn
PMID: 20877326
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1038/nrg2564 View journal details
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