Ufuk Günesdogan (University of Göttingen)

Transcriptional and Epigenetic Programming of Human Primordial Germ Cells

Ivan Bedzhov

During early embryonic development, a few cells are set aside to give rise to primordial germ cells (PGCs), the embryonic precursors of gametes that are responsible for the transmission of genetic information across generations. The development of human PGCs relies on both transcriptional and epigenetic programming, including the upregulation of pluripotency factors, global DNA demethylation and extensive changes in histone modifications. However, the mechanisms that drive these changes are not well understood. In this talk, I will present our strategy to identify and characterise cis-regulatory DNA elements that control the transcriptional programme of human PGC fate. I will also discuss the role of the histone variant H3.3 in facilitating the epigenetic programming of human PGCs.

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