"For objective 1, the researcher developed a new in vitro model system for studying early embryonic development. These ""2C-like"" or ""early-embryonic like"" cells exist within embryonic stem cell cultures as a rare subpopulation of cells, yet had been poorly characterised. To this, the researcher has performed extensive molecular characterisation of these cells, describing the unique open chromatin structure as well as loss of global DNA methylation that temporarily takes place in these cells. This has resulted in a first author and co-corresponding publication for the researcher.
Objective 2 set out to perform a candidate-based screen to identify novel potential regulators of zygotic genome activation. This has successfully been carried out and has resulted in the identification of 10 new factors. Two of these were selected to study further in objective 3 and extensive mechanistic insight into their mode of action has been identified. A manuscript is currently in preparation to describe the results in objective 2 and 3. Given the large number of factors identified and the interesting mechanistic work, objective 4 was not pursued, instead additional experiments on the identified factors and addition leads into their roles in later stages of development have been the main focus of the second half of the project period.
During the project, the results have been disseminated in several ways, including oral presentations at 4 international scientific conferences and symposiums (Epigenetics in Development, IMB Conference, Mainz, Germany; Epigenetics and Chromatin, Keystone Symposium, Whistler, Canada; Stem Cell Institute Postdoc Symposium, The University of Cambridge; International Postdoc Retreat, Lisbon, Portugal). The project has already given rise to one scientific publication (Eckersley-Maslin et al. 2016 Cell Reports), with an additional publication currently being prepared."
