Research on oocyte and embryo development

A multicellular organism begins with a single cell, fertilized egg. Eggs accumulate many maternal factors such as mRNAs and proteins. Recent studies revealed that eggs store more than 10,000 transcripts during oocyte development. These maternal factors promote the progression of early development. Our aim is to understand molecular events that uccour after fertilization to start and promote development by identifing and studing maternal factors. 

Regulation of maternal factors

Maternal factors promote development by activating at appropriate sites and timings after fertilization. However, the molecular mechanisms by which where and when the maternal factors are activated remain to be resolved. We research the molecular mechanisms regulating the activation of maternal factors and how they promote development.