Rearrangement of chromosome spatial organization in mouse zygotes using optical tweezers does not affect preimplantation development
The spatial arrangement of chromosomes is thought to influence key processes such as gene expression or chromosome segregation. However, the contribution of chromosome spatial organization in physiological contexts remains disputed. Here, we use optical tweezers to displace nucleoli and physically rearrange the nuclear contents of mouse zygotes. Monitoring the preimplantation development of zygotes with physically shuffled nuclei reveals that cell dynamics, gene expression and overall blastocyst formation are not affected. This suggests that in mouse zygotes, the spatial organisation of chromosomes is not critical for blastocyst development.
Authors
- Daniele Fachinetti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8795-6771)
- Antoine Coulon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4003-6043)
- Corentin Mollier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8041-4486)
- Anne De Cian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1737-2543)
- Jean‐Léon Maître (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3688-1474)
- Maxime Dahan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4943-2491)
- Lorena Kolar-Znika (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4528-9664)
- Julia Roensch
- Laure de Chancel
- Ozan Kastas
Institutions
- Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (FR)
- Musée national d'histoire naturelle Luxembourg (LU)
- Institut Curie (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
- Published
- 2026-10-28
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.26.761794
- Primary Topic
- Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
- Type
- preprint
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Infrastructures en Biologie Santé et Agronomie
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- Fondation Bettencourt Schueller