At LBS we are studying the molecular and supramolecular mechanisms that regulate the process of oocyte maturation and development.

Our research group has been studying the female gametogenesis for many years and has contributed to the identification of two types of antral oocytes characterised by a different chromatin organisation correlated to a different developmental competence. Only one of the two classes of oocytes is capable, following fertilisation, of embryonic development.

We are now studying:

1) the nuclear architecture of mouse oocytes determining the three dimensional localisation of specific chromosome domains (e.g., heterochomatic regions or centromeres) and whole chromosomes.

2) the timing of the quantitative pattern of expression of genes involved in the metabolism and in development of oocytes and pre-implantation embryos.

Published Papers