The research paper from the Kawaguchi Lab has been published in the Development!

ATAC-seq of low-input and cryopreserved primordial germ cells reveals functional enhancers

Akane Kawaguchi, Mao Igari, Yasuto Murayama, Hiroko Iikawa, Mika Sakamoto, Yasukazu Nakamura, Shigehiro Kuraku, Keisuke Ishihara, Daisuke Saito

Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) give rise to sperm and oocytes and undergo extensive epigenetic reprogramming during development. However, comprehensive analysis of chromatin accessibility in PGCs has been technically challenging because of the limited number of cells available and the difficulty of preserving samples. In this study, the authors established an optimized ATAC-seq workflow applicable to low-input and cryopreserved PGC samples and characterized chromatin accessibility dynamics during germ cell development. The study demonstrated that cryopreserved PGCs retain chromatin accessibility profiles comparable to those of freshly isolated cells, enabling flexible experimental design and sample storage. Furthermore, genome-wide analyses revealed developmental stage-dependent changes in chromatin accessibility associated with germ cell differentiation and epigenetic reprogramming. These findings provide a valuable methodological and biological resource for studying germ cell development and epigenetic regulation.

Development 153(9): dev205214 (2026)
https://journals.biologists.com/dev/article/153/9/dev205214/371673/ATAC-seq-of-low-input-and-cryopreserved-primordial?guestAccessKey=