# Single cell quantification of translation control in early mouse development

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · 2024 · $389,230

## Abstract

The initial stages of vertebrate embryo development proceed in the absence of transcription.
Consequently, protein abundance of preimplantation embryos is regulated by post-transcriptional
gene expression programs. In particular, new protein synthesis is required for productive
embryogenesis as inhibition of translation prevents activation of the zygotic genome and leads to
arrested development. Despite this critical function, translational dynamics in single mammalian
embryos have remained unexplored due to technological limitations. To address this critical gap and
technological need, we propose to comprehensively and quantitatively determine the dynamics of
translational control during early mouse development at single nucleotide and single embryo
resolution. The proposed research will apply a transformative technology that my lab developed
enabling the measurement of translation in single preimplantation embryos. In this study, we will
determine allele-specific ribosome engagement of mRNAs and characterize the underlying
mechanisms. The proposed study will be significant as it will be the first transcriptome-wide
characterization of translational control in preimplantation mammalian development at single embryo
resolution and will reveal how the early embryo executes specific gene expression programs to shape
its proteome.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10892160
- **Project number:** 5R35GM150667-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Can Cenik
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $389,230
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-01 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10892160

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10892160, Single cell quantification of translation control in early mouse development (5R35GM150667-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10892160. Licensed CC0.

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