An international team led by scientists at A*STAR’s Institute of Medical Biology (IMB) has discovered that a protein, called TRIM28, normally present in the mother’s egg, is essential right after fertilization to preserve certain chemical modifications or “epigenetic marks” on a specific set of genes. The study, published in the March 23, 2012 issue of Science, paves the way for more research to explore the role that epigenetics might play in infertility. Previous studies have shown that both nuclear reprogramming as well as “imprinting” are vital for the survival and later development of the embryo. However, the underlying mechanisms governing the intricate interplay of these two processes during the early embryonic phase have not been clear, until now. Immediately after fertilization, the majority of the epigenetic marks on the DNA from the sperm and egg cells are erased. The erasure process, termed nuclear reprogramming, allows the genes from the parents to be reset so that the early embryonic cells can develop into any cell types of the body. On the other hand, certain epigenetic marks on a particular set of genes, some from the mother and some from the father must be preserved. These genes are said to be “imprinted” by their parent of origin and preservation of these marks is critical for the survival of the newly formed embryo. Expression of these imprinted genes at the appropriate levels ensures proper development of the embryo. If the epigenetic marks on the imprinted genes are not protected, severe and multiple developmental defects occur in the embryo. Using genetically identical mice from an inbred mouse strain, Drs. Davor Solter and Barbara Knowles, Senior Principal Investigators at IMB, observed that none of the embryos resulting from the fertilization of eggs lacking TRIM28 survived.Login Or Register To Read Full Story