EXPRESSION OF THE MYOTONIN PROTEIN-KINASE GENE IN PREIMPLANTATION HUMAN EMBRYOS

We have examined the expression of the myotonin protein kinase gene (M PK) in individual human preimplantation embryos. An allele-specific, r everse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay was developed to the required sensitivity using human buccal cells. Human cleavage stag e embryos, derived by in vitro fertilisation, were assayed for MPK tra nscription directly, or after biopsy of a single blastomere used to de termine the genotype of the embryo. The maternal acid paternal genotyp es were determined from cumulus cells and sperm, respectively. MPK gen e transcripts were detected in embryos at the 1-cell-4-cell stage of d evelopment. Detection of transcripts from the paternally-inherited all ele confirmed onset of embryonic MPK gene expression at this very earl y preimplantation stage.