Proteomic Analysis Of The Developmental Mechanisms At Early Mouse Embryo

Embryogenesis is precisely programmed by a series of cell proliferation, differentiation/morphogenesis and apoptosis. Early postimplantation embryos lie at the critical point for initiation of wide spectrums of dramatic embryonic differentiation and successful integration of fetal development into maternal homeostasis. In this period, embryos proliferate dramaticly and differentiate into besides extra embryonic ectoderm, three definitive embryonic germ layers: first ectoderm & endoderm and slightly later, mesoderm, setting off a panorama of far-reaching tissue differentiation and morphogenesis. Due to the inaccessibility to the embryos at this early stage and technical challenges in dealing with small amount of tissues, molecular events underlying this important period have been poorly addressed. We perform the first proteomes of the early postimplantation mouse embryos, revealing proteins differentially expressed between E6.5 and E7.5 dpc embryos as well as between the embryonic proper and the maternal deciduum at E6.5 dpc to investigate the molecular mechanisms of early embryo development and fetal maternal interaction. In addition, we have identified 340 proteins to construct a protein expression profiling and provide useful information of embryo develoment Proteomic data were validated by a combination of RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry analyses to further investigate the apoptosis'role in embryo development. Thus, the analysis has provided the first global snapshot on the molecular activities underlying early postimplantation embryo development and showcased the molecular mechanisms for spatial and environmental coordination between fetal development and maternal physiology and has significant information for further research about embryo development.