Acta Anatomica Sinica ›› 2019, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (1): 132-136.doi: 10.16098/j.issn.0529-1356.2019.01.023

• Review • Previous Articles    

Role of histone variants in the reprogramming of parental genomes

WANG Nan HUANG Xing-wei CHENG Xiang-rong JIANG Qi PANG Nan LEI Lei*   

  1. Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081
  • Received:2018-03-20 Revised:2018-05-03 Online:2019-02-06 Published:2019-04-18
  • Contact: LEI Lei E-mail:leiys2002@yahoo.com

Abstract:

Oocytes have the ability to reprogram the sperm genome to ensure normal embryonic development. After sperm enters into the egg, the paternal genome undergoes protamine to histone exchange, whole genome demethylation and other processes, which start embryonic development. Histone H3 variant H3.3 can replace canonical histones H3.1 and H3.2 in nucleosomes, thereby modifying chromatin structure and regulate gene expression. The absence of H3.3 during early embryonic development will lead to excessive chromosomal aggregation and mis-isolation. This article reviews the role of histone variant H3.3 and its chaperones in spermatogenesis, fertilization and early embryonic development. In particular, the importance of H3.3 in the reprogramming of the paternal genome is of great significance in understanding the formation of totipotent zygotes after fertilization and their preimplantation development.

Key words: Fertilization, Histone, Reprogramming, Protamine