The Dynamic 3D Genome in Gametogenesis and Early Embryonic Development

During gametogenesis and early embryonic development, the chromatin architecture changes dramatically, and both the transcriptomic and epigenomic landscape are comprehensively reprogrammed. Understanding these processes is the holy grail in developmental biology and a key step towards evolution. The 3D conformation of chromatin plays a central role in the organization and function of nuclei. Recently, the dynamics of chromatin structures have been profiled in many model and non-model systems, from insects to mammals, resulting in an interesting comparison. In this review, we first introduce the research methods of 3D chromatin structure with low-input material suitable for embryonic study. Then, the dynamics of 3D chromatin architectures during gametogenesis and early embryonic development is summarized and compared between species. Finally, we discuss the possible mechanisms for triggering the formation of genome 3D conformation in early development.