Publications
2026
2.
Marina Takechi, Yezhang Zhu, Zezhen Lu, Ying Zeng, Ken-ichi Mizutani, Toru Nakano, Li Shen, Shinpei Yamaguchi
Parthenogenote-derived brain unveils the critical role of paternal genome in neural development Journal Article
In: Scientific Reports, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 24021, 2026, ISSN: 2045-2322.
Abstract | Links | タグ: Yamaguchi G
@article{Takechi2026b,
title = {Parthenogenote-derived brain unveils the critical role of paternal genome in neural development},
author = {Marina Takechi and Yezhang Zhu and Zezhen Lu and Ying Zeng and Ken-ichi Mizutani and Toru Nakano and Li Shen and Shinpei Yamaguchi},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-55790-5},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-55790-5},
issn = {2045-2322},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-06-08},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {24021},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {Genomic imprinting, an epigenetic mechanism that governs parent-of-origin–specific gene expression, is essential for mammalian development, yet its role in late-stage development remains unclear due to the lethality of parthenogenetic (Pg) embryos. Here, we establish cell replacement with parthenogenote-derived cells (CReP), a blastocyst complementation strategy that enables survival and tissue-specific contribution of Pg-derived cells. By creating tissue-specific niches in recipient embryos, CReP allows targeted incorporation of Pg-derived cells into late-stage tissues. Brain-targeted CReP showed that Pg-derived cells can participate in neural development but exhibit impaired maintenance of neuronal–glial balance, accompanied by increased Notch signaling and reduced expression of the paternally expressed gene Dlk1. Recombinant Dlk1 attenuated Notch activity and shifted neuronal differentiation toward control levels. These findings support a key contribution of the paternal genome to neural stem cell expansion and balanced cell fate decisions, in part through Dlk1-Notch-related pathways. The CReP model provides a powerful platform for investigating genomic imprinting and parental genome contributions in development and disease.},
keywords = {Yamaguchi G},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Genomic imprinting, an epigenetic mechanism that governs parent-of-origin–specific gene expression, is essential for mammalian development, yet its role in late-stage development remains unclear due to the lethality of parthenogenetic (Pg) embryos. Here, we establish cell replacement with parthenogenote-derived cells (CReP), a blastocyst complementation strategy that enables survival and tissue-specific contribution of Pg-derived cells. By creating tissue-specific niches in recipient embryos, CReP allows targeted incorporation of Pg-derived cells into late-stage tissues. Brain-targeted CReP showed that Pg-derived cells can participate in neural development but exhibit impaired maintenance of neuronal–glial balance, accompanied by increased Notch signaling and reduced expression of the paternally expressed gene Dlk1. Recombinant Dlk1 attenuated Notch activity and shifted neuronal differentiation toward control levels. These findings support a key contribution of the paternal genome to neural stem cell expansion and balanced cell fate decisions, in part through Dlk1-Notch-related pathways. The CReP model provides a powerful platform for investigating genomic imprinting and parental genome contributions in development and disease.
1.
Marina Takechi, Yezhang Zhu, Zezhen Lu, Ying Zeng, Ken-Ich Mizutani, Toru Nakano, Li Shen, Shinpei Yamaguchi
Parthenogenote-Derived Brain Unveils the Critical Role of Paternal Genome in Neural Development Unpublished
bioRxiv, 2026.
Abstract | Links | タグ: Yamaguchi G
@unpublished{Takechi2026,
title = {Parthenogenote-Derived Brain Unveils the Critical Role of Paternal Genome in Neural Development},
author = {Marina Takechi and Yezhang Zhu and Zezhen Lu and Ying Zeng and Ken-Ich Mizutani and Toru Nakano and Li Shen and Shinpei Yamaguchi},
url = {http://biorxiv.org/lookup/doi/10.64898/2026.01.06.697935},
doi = {10.64898/2026.01.06.697935},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-06},
urldate = {2026-01-06},
publisher = {openRxiv},
abstract = {Genomic imprinting, an epigenetic mechanism that governs parent-of-origin-specific gene expression, is essential for mammalian development, yet its role in late-stage development remains unclear due to the lethality of parthenogenetic (Pg) embryos. Here, we establish cell replacement with parthenogenote-derived cells (CReP), a blastocyst complementation strategy that enables survival and tissue-specific contribution of Pg-derived cells. Brain-targeted CReP showed that Pg-derived cells can participate in neural development but fail to maintain neuronal-glial balance due to aberrant activation of Notch signaling caused by the loss of the paternally expressed gene Dlk1. Restoration of Dlk1 normalized Notch activity and rescued neuronal differentiation. These findings reveal a critical role of the paternal genome, through Dlk1-mediated regulation of Notch signaling, in ensuring neural stem cell expansion and balanced cell fate decisions. The CReP model provides a powerful platform for investigating genomic imprinting and parental genome contributions in development and disease.},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
keywords = {Yamaguchi G},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {unpublished}
}
Genomic imprinting, an epigenetic mechanism that governs parent-of-origin-specific gene expression, is essential for mammalian development, yet its role in late-stage development remains unclear due to the lethality of parthenogenetic (Pg) embryos. Here, we establish cell replacement with parthenogenote-derived cells (CReP), a blastocyst complementation strategy that enables survival and tissue-specific contribution of Pg-derived cells. Brain-targeted CReP showed that Pg-derived cells can participate in neural development but fail to maintain neuronal-glial balance due to aberrant activation of Notch signaling caused by the loss of the paternally expressed gene Dlk1. Restoration of Dlk1 normalized Notch activity and rescued neuronal differentiation. These findings reveal a critical role of the paternal genome, through Dlk1-mediated regulation of Notch signaling, in ensuring neural stem cell expansion and balanced cell fate decisions. The CReP model provides a powerful platform for investigating genomic imprinting and parental genome contributions in development and disease.
