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9.3
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Journals
Biomolecules
Special Issues
Mechanisms of Gene Regulation in Embryos
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Mechanisms of Gene Regulation in Embryos

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 1943

Editors

Dr. Jo Qian

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of North Georgia, Gainesville Campus, Oakwood, GA 30566, USA
Interests: cell and molecular biology; developmental biology; neuroscience
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Adam Davis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of North Georgia, Gainesville Campus, Oakwood, GA 30566, USA
Interests: evolutionary and developmental biology; embryonic gene expression; vertebrate head development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The precise regulation of gene expression during embryonic development is fundamental to the proper formation of tissues, organs, and body structures. In early embryos, gene regulatory networks are precisely controlled to orchestrate cellular proliferation, differentiation, and patterning and therefore establish body plan and functional systems. These processes are influenced by a variety of factors, including DNA methylation, chromatin modifications, alternative RNA splicing, noncoding RNAs, protein folding, and protein degradation. Advances in genomic technologies, such as single-cell RNA sequencing and CRISPR-based genome editing, have provided new insights into how gene regulation contributes to normal embryonic development and diseases.

This Special Issue seeks to highlight recent advances in the field, focusing on the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing gene regulation in embryos. We aim to bring together original research and review articles that explore how gene expression is modulated during critical developmental stages, as well as how dysregulation can lead to developmental disorders and diseases. The goal of this Special Issue is to provide a comprehensive resource for researchers and clinicians interested in the molecular and cellular foundations of embryonic development.

Dr. Jo Qian
Dr. Adam Davis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • embryonic development
  • gene regulation
  • epigenetics
  • transcriptional control
  • post-transcriptional control
  • translational control
  • post-translational modification
  • signaling pathways
  • developmental disorders

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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29 pages, 998 KB  
Review
The Critical Functions of FGF2, LIF and IGF1 in the Improvement of In Vitro Embryo Production
by Paula M. Mangiavacchi, Kiho Lee and Bethany K. Redel
Biomolecules 2026, 16(4), 487; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16040487 - 24 Mar 2026
Viewed by 993
Abstract
In vitro embryo production (IVP) has emerged as a crucial tool in assisted reproduction and animal biotechnology. A key factor in this process is in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM), a critical process preceding fertilization that directly influences embryo quality. FLI supplementation, composed of [...] Read more.
In vitro embryo production (IVP) has emerged as a crucial tool in assisted reproduction and animal biotechnology. A key factor in this process is in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM), a critical process preceding fertilization that directly influences embryo quality. FLI supplementation, composed of fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), has been shown to facilitate the IVM process to mimic essential aspects of in vivo oocyte development, and therefore, promote higher rates of oocyte maturation, embryonic viability, blastocyst formation, and improve the number of live animals born after embryo transfer. Individually or together, these components participate in signaling pathways that are crucial for improving oocyte competence and early embryo development. This review highlights the individual and combined roles of FGF2, LIF, and IGF1 in maturation and embryo culture medium, their influence on subsequent embryonic development, and their signaling pathways. Additionally, the incorporation of antioxidants and amino acids as supplementary components in combination with FLI is explored as a strategy to mitigate oxidative stress and enhance metabolic support during IVM and embryo culture. Together, these elements can significantly improve IVP outcomes, providing a potential pathway for optimizing the efficiency of embryo production in various species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Gene Regulation in Embryos)
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14 pages, 12184 KB  
Brief Report
High Corticosterone Affects Somite Development During Early Avian Embryogenesis
by Deeksha Aarti Nursimulu, Anita Heiß, Jiazhao Song, Hanne Jahns, Prity Pugo-Gunsam and Regine Schneider-Stock
Biomolecules 2026, 16(7), 1014; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16071014 - 11 Jul 2026
Viewed by 189
Abstract
Maternal stress has been associated with altered embryonic and fetal development, yet the mechanisms by which stress hormones influence early developmental processes remain poorly understood. Early embryogenesis is particularly sensitive because it establishes the vertebrate body plan through tightly regulated events such as [...] Read more.
Maternal stress has been associated with altered embryonic and fetal development, yet the mechanisms by which stress hormones influence early developmental processes remain poorly understood. Early embryogenesis is particularly sensitive because it establishes the vertebrate body plan through tightly regulated events such as somitogenesis. Disruptions during this developmental window may therefore compromise normal morphogenesis and tissue organization. In the present study, we investigated whether elevated acute corticosterone exposure affects somite phenotype and Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signalling during early embryogenesis using the avian chick embryo model. Fertilized specific pathogen-free (SPF) chick eggs were incubated until Hamburger–Hamilton stage 12 (approximately 48 h of incubation) and subsequently injected with 15 µg corticosterone into the yolk sac to mimic acute high-stress conditions for 4 h. Macroscopic examination revealed increased inter-somitic distances between the first five visible pairs of somites in corticosterone-treated embryos compared with controls, suggesting altered somite organization. In addition, histological assessment indicated that corticosterone-treated embryos displayed occasional cells with morphological features consistent with cellular degeneration or cell death. Molecular analysis demonstrated significant downregulation of SHH and GLI1 expression, indicating potential impairment of the SHH signalling axis during somitogenesis. The expression of TGFβ4 was also reduced, whereas HIF2α expression was elevated. These findings suggest a possible association between stress-induced hypoxic responses and altered developmental signalling, warranting further investigation. To the best of our knowledge, this is among the first in vivo studies to examine the relationship between elevated corticosterone exposure and SHH-associated somite development during early embryogenesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Gene Regulation in Embryos)
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