Work

Y chromosome instability in the early mouse embryo

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The Y chromosome lacks canonical centromeric repeats necessary for high-fidelity chromosome segregation. In adult tissues, this causes Y loss and predisposes to disease. However, its impact on embryogenesis is unknown. Here, we identify the first mouse embryonic mitoses as a window during which the Y centromere is unusually weak. This vulnerability impairs kinetochore strength and the Y becomes preferentially trapped at the spindle pole, resulting in missegregation. To study the impact of Y loss, we generate an aggregation model to track specific aneuploidies in mosaic embryos. Loss of the Y slows down cell division and compromises embryo size. Our findings reveal a developmental window during which the Y is especially vulnerable to loss, with implications for male sex determination and the origin of Turner syndrome (XO).

Source: Science Advances

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aej3098

Authors: Agata P. Zielinska, Richelle Rietdijk, Valdone Maciulyte, Aurelien Courtois, James M. A. Turner

Institution: The Francis Crick Institute

Language: English

Topic: Microtubule and mitosis dynamics

Subfield: Cell Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,500

Funders: Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK, Medical Research Council