Dissecting primate early post-implantation development using long-term in vitro embryo culture

• DOI: 10.1126/science.aaw5754
• Publication Date: 2019-10-31T23:09:27Z
• Authors: Yuyu Niu; Nianqin Sun; Chang Li; Ying Lei; Zhihao Huang; Jun Wu; Chenyang Si; Xi Dai; Chuanyu Liu; Jingkuan Wei; Longqi Liu; Su Feng; Yu Kang; Wei Si; Hong Wang; E. Zhang; Lu Zhao; Ziwei Li; Xi Luo; Guizhong Cui; Guangdun Peng; Juan Carlos Izpis...; Weizhi Ji; Tao Tan
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Gastrulation; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Embryonic Germ Cells; Chromatin; Embryo Culture Techniques; Macaca fascicularis; 03 medical and health sciences; Blastocyst; Animals; Humans; Embryo Implantation; Single-Cell Analysis; Wnt Signaling Pathway; Transcription Factors

The transition from peri-implantation to gastrulation in mammals entails the specification and organization of lineage progenitors into a body plan. Technical ethical challenges have limited understanding cellular molecular mechanisms that underlie this transition. We established culture system enabled development cynomolgus monkey embryos vitro for up 20 days. Cultured underwent key primate developmental stages, including segregation, bilaminar disc formation, amniotic yolk sac cavitation, primordial germ cell-like cell (PGCLC) differentiation. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis revealed trajectories primitive endoderm, trophectoderm, epiblast lineages, PGCLCs. Analysis single-cell chromatin accessibility identified transcription factors specifying each type. Our results reveal critical events complex underlying nonhuman embryogenesis early postimplantation period, with possible relevance human development.