Date of Award

12-2017

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Animal Science

Committee Chair

Ryan Cabot

Committee Member 1

Kolapo Ajuwon

Committee Member 2

Zoltan Machaty

Abstract

Gene expression is under precise regulation during early mammalian embryonic development. Epigenetic modifications are a major aspect of studying gene expression. SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes are large multiprotein complexes, which can reposition nucleosomes and alter transcription factor accessibility to DNA. Subunits of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes play essential roles in development by guiding the complexes to specific loci. The aims of this study were to 1) determine the function of ARID1A, a SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex subunit during cleavage development in the porcine embryo and 2) determine the intracellular localization of four SWI/SNF subunits, ARID1A, ARID2, BRD7, and SNF5, in porcine embryos using an immunocytochemical approach. Our data show that ARID1A is essential for early embryo development. Our results indicate that individual SWI/SNF subunits adopt unique intracellular localization patterns at discrete developmental time points. Together, our data suggest that the collection of SWI/SNF complexes within blastomeres of cleavage stage embryos may differ at discrete developmental stages.

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