Oogenesis pp 141-150 | Cite as

An Epigenomic Biography of the Mammalian Oocyte

Chapter
First Online:

Abstract

Successful fertilization and early development depend on the quality of the ovulated oocyte. Our knowledge lacks of links between morphological aspects described and the genomic and epigenomic features that work in the backstage. Bringing to light these links would permit the identification of molecular markers of the oocyte developmental competence. In this chapter, we will review our current understanding of the changes that occur to the oocyte epigenetic signature during folliculogenesis and in mature oocytes.

Keywords

Oocyte Epigenomic Chromatin organization DNA methylation Histone acetylation Histone methylation ssRNA 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

We thank the following organizations for support: UNIPV-Regione Lombardia, Fondazione Alma Mater Ticinensis, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Matteo, and “Bando Giovani Ricercatori 2007” to C.A.R.

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© Springer-Verlag London 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Biotecnologiche e TraslazionaliUniversita’ degli Studi di ParmaParmaItaly
  2. 2.Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia AnimaleUniversita’ degli Studi di PaviaPaviaItaly
  3. 3.Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San MatteoPaviaItaly
  4. 4.Centro di Ingegneria TissutaleUniversita’ degli Studi di PaviaPaviaItaly
  5. 5.Centro di Eccellenza in Biologia ApplicataUniversita’ degli Studi di PaviaPaviaItaly

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