COMPASS Complex Subunits Set1 and Ash2 Are Required for Oocyte Determination and Maintenance of the Synaptonemal Complex.

Female gametogenesis is orchestrated by dynamic epigenetic modifications. In mammals, SETDB1, a histone H3K9 methyltransferase, is required for proper meiotic progression and early embryonic development. In , the ortholog of SETDB1 plays a critical role in germ cell differentiation, transposon silencing, and the transcriptional repression of specific germline genes during oocyte fate determination.

Genetic and Epigenetic Regulation of Oocyte Determination.

Primary oocyte determination occurs in many organisms within a germ line cyst, a multicellular structure composed of interconnected germ cells. However, the structure of the cyst is itself highly diverse, which raises intriguing questions about the benefits of this stereotypical multicellular environment for female gametogenesis. is a well-studied model for female gametogenesis, and numerous genes and pathways critical for the determination and differentiation of a viable female gamete have been identified.