Nicolas Plachta

An Intronic SINE at Pou5f1 Links Hormone Signaling to Blastocyst Hatching

This study identifies an intronic SINE element that regulates Pou5f1/OCT4 repression in mouse trophectoderm, linking hormone signaling to blastocyst hatching and implantation.

ERH elicits cell lineage restriction in mammalian preimplantation development and differentiation from pluripotency via H3K9me3-heterochromatin

This study shows ERH maintains H3K9me3 heterochromatin in mammalian cells, restricting lineage potential and repressing pluripotency genes during development and reprogramming.

Proprotein convertase activity regulates cumulus-oocyte-complex matrix integrity and cumulus cell migration during ovulation via a GDF9-dependent mechanism

This study identifies PCSK5A and GDF9 as key regulators of cumulus-oocyte-complex matrix integrity and cumulus cell migration during late ovulation, with implications for fertility therapeutics.

Ultra-low oxygen tension during in vitro fertilization improves embryonic and adult outcomes in mice

This study shows culturing mouse embryos at 2% oxygen improves embryonic and adult outcomes compared to 5% oxygen, by enhancing cell number, chromatin structure, and metabolic function.

Modeling human embryo adhesion using a microfluidic platform

This paper presents a microfluidic platform to model human embryo adhesion and endometrial interactions, showing embryo-epithelial contacts and hormone-induced receptivity.

In Vitro Fertilization Accelerates Female Reproductive Aging Through Early Ovarian Failure

This study shows that in vitro fertilization (IVF) accelerates reproductive aging in female mice by causing premature ovarian failure, with altered ovarian function and epigenetic changes.

Cooperation-based sperm clusters mediate sperm oviduct entry and fertilization

The paper shows that sperm cooperation in mice forms clusters at the utero-tubal junction, facilitating oviduct entry and fertilization, with defects in this process linked to infertility.

The embryonic node functions as an instructive stem cell niche

The paper shows that the posterior part of the vertebrate node acts as an instructive stem cell niche by converting non-node cells into stem-like cells through transplantation and single-cell RNA sequencing.