Chromosomes and spindles in mature oocytes are stabilized by histone modification, study shows

The accurate distribution of chromosomes in an oocyte is essential for the correct transmission of genetic information to the next generation. Now, researchers from Kyushu University have demonstrated that the histone modification H3K4me3 in mature mouse oocytes is directly involved in chromosome and spindle stabilization and is crucial for normal oocyte development and subsequent embryonic competence. Their results were published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.