Conserved molecular portraits of bovine and human blastocysts as a consequence of the transition from maternal to embryonic control of gene expression

2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Adjaye ◽  
Ralf Herwig ◽  
Thore C. Brink ◽  
Doris Herrmann ◽  
Boris Greber ◽  
...  

The present study investigated mRNA expression profiles of bovine oocytes and blastocysts by using a cross-species hybridization approach employing an array consisting of 15,529 human cDNAs as probe, thus enabling the identification of conserved genes during human and bovine preimplantation development. Our analysis revealed 419 genes that were expressed in both oocytes and blastocysts. The expression of 1,324 genes was detected exclusively in the blastocyst, in contrast to 164 in the oocyte including a significant number of novel genes. Genes indicative for transcriptional and translational control ( ELAVL4, TACC3) were overexpressed in the oocyte, whereas cellular trafficking ( SLC2A14, SLC1A3), proteasome ( PSMA1, PSMB3), cell cycle ( BUB3, CCNE1, GSPT1), and protein modification and turnover ( TNK1, UBE3A) genes were found to be overexpressed in blastocysts. Transcripts implicated in chromatin remodeling were found in both oocytes ( NASP, SMARCA2) and blastocysts ( H2AFY, HDAC7A). The trophectodermal markers PSG2 and KRT18 were enriched 5- and 50-fold in the blastocyst. Pathway analysis revealed differential expression of genes involved in 107 distinct signaling and metabolic pathways. For example, phosphatidylinositol signaling and gluconeogenesis were prominent pathways identified in the blastocyst. Expression patterns in bovine and human blastocysts were to a large extent identical. This analysis compared the transcriptomes of bovine oocytes and blastocysts and provides a solid foundation for future studies on the first major differentiation events in blastocysts and identification of a set of markers indicative for regular mammalian development.

Author(s):  
Denis Bienroth ◽  
Hieu T. Nim ◽  
Dimitar Garkov ◽  
Karsten Klein ◽  
Sabrina Jaeger-Honz ◽  
...  

AbstractSpatially resolved transcriptomics is an emerging class of high-throughput technologies that enable biologists to systematically investigate the expression of genes along with spatial information. Upon data acquisition, one major hurdle is the subsequent interpretation and visualization of the datasets acquired. To address this challenge, VR-Cardiomicsis presented, which is a novel data visualization system with interactive functionalities designed to help biologists interpret spatially resolved transcriptomic datasets. By implementing the system in two separate immersive environments, fish tank virtual reality (FTVR) and head-mounted display virtual reality (HMD-VR), biologists can interact with the data in novel ways not previously possible, such as visually exploring the gene expression patterns of an organ, and comparing genes based on their 3D expression profiles. Further, a biologist-driven use-case is presented, in which immersive environments facilitate biologists to explore and compare the heart expression profiles of different genes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoming Gong ◽  
Lewis Rubin

Abstract Objectives Carotenoid/retinoids status and metabolism are essential for normal placental and fetal development. Both deficiencies and excess of retinoids and some carotenoids are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preeclampsia and preterm birth. A group of important genes involved in regulating carotenoid/retinoid metabolism and maternal to fetal transfer in human placenta. The objective of this study is to analyze (a) the expression of genes critical for regulating carotenoid/retinoid metabolism and maternal-fetal transport in human trophoblasts and (b) placental transcriptional profiles of these pathways in response to carotenoid exposure. Methods Human cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) were isolated from term placentas. CTB RNA was used to analyze the expression of genes involved in carotenoid/retinoid metabolism and pathways by qRT-PCT. First trimester-like trophoblasts (HTR-8/SVneo) were treated with either β-carotene or lycopene. RNAs were isolated and gene expression were analyzed by DNA microarrays. Results Human CTBs express retinoid metabolism and pathways-related genes, including Stra6, Lrat, Rdh5, Rdh10, Aldh1a1, Aldh1a2, Aldh1a3, Aldh8a1, Cyp26a1, and Cyp26b1, but not carotenoid metabolism genes, BCO1 and BCO2. Microarray analysis of placental gene expression profile revealed a total of 872 and 756 differentially expressed genes, respectively, compared to the control. Gene set enrichment analysis and functional annotation clustering was performed to characterize the genes differentially expressed in either β-carotene or lycopene-treated HTR-8/SVneo cells. Many known retinoid metabolism related genes and genes involved in regulation of retinoid signaling were found, and the expression profiles of these genes were markedly different in response to β-carotene treatments. Finally, the qRT-PCR and microarray analysis results showed similar gene expression patterns of carotenoid/retinoid metabolism and pathways. Conclusions These findings suggest that placental expression of genes involved in retinoid metabolism and transport in trophoblasts is critical for regulating retinoid homeostasis during placental and fetal development. Carotenoid exposure in early placental development, significantly modify the placenta gene expression related to retinoid pathways and maternal to fetal transfer. Funding Sources NIH HD421174.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 335
Author(s):  
H. Torner ◽  
D. Janowski ◽  
N. Ghanem ◽  
D. Salilew-Wondim ◽  
H. Alm ◽  
...  

Though many factors have been shown to affect the oocyte developmental potential, it remains difficult to draw clear and reliable criteria for oocyte selection. With the urgent need for establishing non-invasive means for oocyte selection, the brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining test based on glucose- 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity has been successfully used to differentiate competent and non-competent bovine oocytes (Alm et al. 2005 Theriogenology 63, 2194-2205). Also it has been hypothesized that there is a correlation between the appearance of light atretic granulosa cells (GC) in the follicle and an increased developmental competence of the oocyte. Here we aim to investigate whether different developmental competent oocytes show differences concerning the degree of apoptosis or in the gene expression pattern of their follicular environment [GC and cumulus cells (CC)]. After follicular aspiration, the immature COCs were separately stained with 26 μM BCB for 90 minutes. Based on their colouration, oocytes were grouped into BCB- (colourless cytoplasm, low developmental competence) and BCB+ (coloured cytoplasm, high developmental competence). The corresponding CC and GC were also grouped according to the colouration of the enclosed oocytes. BCB+ oocytes were found to result in a higher blastocyst rate at Day 8 of in vitro culture (34.1%) compared to BCB- ones (3.9%) (n = 601 COCs). Apoptosis in GC was determined either by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) or by Annexin-V-staining followed by flow cytometric measurement. The degree of apoptosis in GC of BCB+ oocytes was slightly increased in contrast to the BCB- group (17.0 v. 11.0%; P < 0.05). The abundance and activity of protein kinases Akt, MAP kinase, and Caspase-3 were estimated by western blot analysis. CC, GC, and oocytes from the BCB+ group showed a higher ratio of cleaved Caspase-3/Caspase-3 in contrast to all compartments of the BCB- group (P < 0.05). Moreover, a bovine Affymetrix microarray plate form (Affymetrix Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA) was used to analyze the gene expression profiles in oocytes, CC, and GC. The BCB+ oocytes were found to be enriched with genes regulating the oocyte maturation (EIF3F, PRKCSH) and the transition from maternal to embryonic genome activation (HMG2L1). Also BCB+ derived follicular compartments showed elevated expression of genes related to steroidgenesis, cumulus expansion and gonadotropins. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that the developmental competence of oocytes is associated with the apoptotic level and altered expression of genes in cells of their follicular environment. This work was supported financially by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (To 138/5-1).


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 159
Author(s):  
D. Paul ◽  
W. Sonnet ◽  
R. Rezsohazy ◽  
I. Donnay

HOX genes encode transcription factors known to play a major role in patterning the main body axis of vertebrate embryos from the gastrulation stage onward. A few studies have provided evidence that some HOX genes might be expressed before implantation in mammalian embryos. Translation of maternally inherited transcripts is regulated by modifications of the poly(A) tail length until embryonic genome activation (EGA), occurring during the 4th cell cycle in the bovine. The objective of this work was to establish the expression pattern of various HOX genes and to study the polyadenylation of their transcripts during oocyte maturation and early embryonic development. Pools of 20 bovine oocytes before and after in vitro maturation and 20 in vitro-produced embryos at different stages of development up to the blastocyst stage were collected. Three to 12 pools were used for each stage. RNA was extracted and reverse transcribed (RT) using random hexamers. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed to establish expression profiles of 4 HOX genes: HOXD1, HOXA3, HOXB9, and HOXC9. Two distinct patterns of expression were observed. First, relative amounts of HOXD1, HOXA3, and HOXC9 were lower in morulae and blastocysts than in oocytes. On the other hand, relative expression of HOXB9 increased between the 5 to 8 cell stage and the morula stage (Mann-Whitney, P < 0.05). Those expression patterns were not modified when embryos were cultured in presence of α-amanitin, a RNA polymerase II inhibitor, indicating the maternal origin of the transcripts until EGA. Total amount of mRNAs, estimated by RT-qPCR with random hexamers, was stable for all studied genes during oocyte maturation. The relative amount of polyadenylated GAPDH mRNAs, estimated by RT-qPCR with poly(dT), decreased greatly in mature oocytes compared with immature oocytes indicating massive deadenylation of those transcripts. The relative amount of polyadenylated HOXC9 transcripts decreased slightly but significantly during oocyte maturation (Mann-Whitney, P < 0.05).The relative amount of polyadenylatedm RNAs corresponding to HOXD1, HOXA3, and HOXB9 was stable during oocyte maturation. This indicates that those transcripts escape the default deadenylation pathways followed by housekeeping genes. This experiment has been repeated 3 to 4 times. In conclusion, we confirmed the presence of HOXD1, HOXA3, HOXB9, and HOXC9 transcripts in bovine oocytes and early-stage embryos. Their role during oocyte maturation and the first stages of embryonic development will be investigated through loss of function studies. This work is funded by the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (Belgium).


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 3597
Author(s):  
Diana Medina-Bastidas ◽  
Mario Guzmán-Huerta ◽  
Hector Borboa-Olivares ◽  
César Ruiz-Cruz ◽  
Sandra Parra-Hernández ◽  
...  

Preeclampsia (PE) and Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) are major contributors to perinatal morbidity and mortality. These pregnancy disorders are associated with placental dysfunction and share similar pathophysiological features. The aim of this study was to compare the placental gene expression profiles including mRNA and lncRNAs from pregnant women from four study groups: PE, IUGR, PE-IUGR, and normal pregnancy (NP). Gene expression microarray analysis was performed on placental tissue obtained at delivery and results were validated using RTq-PCR. Differential gene expression analysis revealed that the largest transcript variation was observed in the IUGR samples compared to NP (n = 461; 314 mRNAs: 252 up-regulated and 62 down-regulated; 133 lncRNAs: 36 up-regulated and 98 down-regulated). We also detected a group of differentially expressed transcripts shared between the PE and IUGR samples compared to NP (n = 39), including 9 lncRNAs with a high correlation degree (p < 0.05). Functional enrichment of these shared transcripts showed that cytokine signaling pathways, protein modification, and regulation of JAK-STAT cascade are over-represented in both placental ischemic diseases. These findings contribute to the molecular characterization of placental ischemia showing common epigenetic regulation implicated in the pathophysiology of PE and IUGR.


Zygote ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Segev ◽  
Erdogan Memili ◽  
Neal L. First

Gene expression at the onset of bovine embryogenesis is developmentally regulated and histone deacetylases (HDACs) have been shown to play a key role in the control of gene expression during this period of development in other species. We determined expression pattern(s) of powerful repressors, namely histone deacetylase-1, -2 and -3, that may in part regulate gene expression during bovine oogenesis and early embryogenesis at the mRNA and protein levels. Detected fragments of the hdac genes were sequenced and comparison of the sequences showed very high homologies between DNA and amino acid sequences of bovine HDACs and those of human and mouse. RPD3, a yeast global regulator of transcription, was also detected in bovine oocytes and embryos. Results suggest that HDACs may be operative in regulation of zygotic/embryonic gene expression in cattle.


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 245
Author(s):  
S. Antonini ◽  
G. Lazzari ◽  
F. Cillo ◽  
C. Galli ◽  
S. Colleoni ◽  
...  

In the early blastocyst, lineage segregation depends on the expression of several key specific transcription factors. In the mouse, commitment to inner cell mass (ICM), lineage is positively regulated by Oct-4, a repressor of trophectoderm (TE) cell fate, and Nanog, which inhibits the formation of extra-embryonic and primitive endoderm. Cdx2, a caudal-type homeodomain protein, is specifically expressed in the nascent TE. The mechanisms that drive Cdx2 segregation to the outside cells are still unclear. However, the expression of Fgf Receptor 2 (FgfR2), restricted to the outside cells, and the role for its ligand, Fgf4, in promoting TE development, suggest that this signalling pathway may act upstream or in parallel with Cdx2. Little information is available on these genes in bovine; therefore the aims of the present study were as follows: (a) to identify and characterize the expression profiles of Cdx2 and FgfR2 variants (IIIc and IIIb) in bovine oocytes and pre-implantation embryos; and (b) to compare their expression patterns in ICM and TE with that of Oct-4 and Nanog. Bovine oocytes and embryos were obtained by in vitro maturation and fertilization; blastocysts at Day 7 post-insemination underwent microsurgery to separate TE from ICM. RNA was isolated from MII oocytes; 2-, 4-, 8-, and 16-cell embryos; morulae; blastocysts; ICMs; and TEs. Semi-quantitative analysis of Cdx2 and FgfR2 expression in oocytes and embryos was performed in the exponential phase of PCR amplification with rabbit globin as exogenous control. In order to exclude false negative results, PCR amplification in isolated TE and ICM was extended to the plateau phase for all genes considered. Fragment identity was confirmed by sequencing. Comparison of bovine Cdx2 cDNA sequence (EMBL AM293662) with databases revealed a 91% and 87% homology with human and mouse, respectively. Cdx2 expression was not detectable in MII oocytes, but increased in 2-cell embryos. Transcript levels decreased at the 4- and 8-cell stages and then increased again in the blastocyst. FgfR2 variants were present as both maternal and embryonic transcripts, because they were detectable throughout pre-implantation development. Cdx2 and FgfR2 IIIc and IIIb expression was restricted to TE cells. Nanog was detected only in ICM, whereas Oct-4 was expressed in both lineages, as previously described in bovine (van Eijk et al. 1999 Bio. Reprod. 60, 1093-1103). In conclusion, the expression profiles of Nanog, Cdx2, and FgfR2 in bovine pre-implantation embryos follow the pattern previously described in the mouse. Their differentially segregated expression is consistent with their role as selector factors of ICM vs. TE fates. The significance of Oct-4 ubiquitous distribution still remains to be elucidated. This work was supported by FIRB RBNE01HPMX_005, TECLA-MIUR, and EUROSTELLS-ESF.


EvoDevo ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Wollesen ◽  
Carmel McDougall ◽  
Detlev Arendt

Abstract Background Eyes have evolved and been lost multiple times during animal evolution, however, the process of eye loss has only been reconstructed in a few cases. Mollusks exhibit eyes as varied as the octopod camera eye or the gastropod cup eye and are ideal systems for studying the evolution of eyes, photoreceptors, and opsins. Results Here, we identify genes related to photoreceptor formation and function in an eyeless conchiferan mollusk, the scaphopod Antalis entalis, and investigate their spatial and temporal expression patterns during development. Our study reveals that the scaphopod early mid-stage trochophore larva has putative photoreceptors in a similar location and with a similar gene expression profile as the trochophore of polyplacophoran mollusks. The apical and post-trochal putative photoreceptors appear to co-express go-opsin, six1/2, myoV, and eya, while expression domains in the posterior foot and pavilion (posterior mantle opening) show co-expression of several other candidate genes but not go-opsin. Sequence analysis reveals that the scaphopod Go-opsin amino acid sequence lacks the functionally important lysine (K296; Schiff base) in the retinal-binding domain, but has not accumulated nonsense mutations and still exhibits the canonical G-protein activation domain. Conclusions The scaphopod Go-opsin sequence reported here is the only known example of a bilaterian opsin that lacks lysine K296 in the retinal-binding domain. Although this may render the Go-opsin unable to detect light, the protein may still perform sensory functions. The location, innervation, development, and gene expression profiles of the scaphopod and polyplacophoran apical and post-trochal photoreceptors suggest that they are homologous, even though the scaphopod post-trochal photoreceptors have degenerated. This indicates that post-trochal eyes are not a polyplacophoran apomorphy but likely a molluscan synapomorphy lost in other mollusks. Scaphopod eye degeneration is probably a result of the transition to an infaunal life history and is reflected in the likely functional degeneration of Go-opsin, the loss of photoreceptor shielding pigments, and the scarce expression of genes involved in phototransduction and eye development. Our results emphasize the importance of studying a phylogenetically broad range of taxa to infer the mechanisms and direction of body plan evolution.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 722-734
Author(s):  
Adele Soltani ◽  
Arefeh Jafarian ◽  
Abdolamir Allameh

micro (mi)-RNAs are vital regulators of multiple processes including insulin signaling pathways and glucose metabolism. Pancreatic &#946;-cells function is dependent on some miRNAs and their target mRNA, which together form a complex regulative network. Several miRNAs are known to be directly involved in &#946;-cells functions such as insulin expression and secretion. These small RNAs may also play significant roles in the fate of &#946;-cells such as proliferation, differentiation, survival and apoptosis. Among the miRNAs, miR-7, miR-9, miR-375, miR-130 and miR-124 are of particular interest due to being highly expressed in these cells. Under diabetic conditions, although no specific miRNA profile has been noticed, the expression of some miRNAs and their target mRNAs are altered by posttranscriptional mechanisms, exerting diverse signs in the pathobiology of various diabetic complications. The aim of this review article is to discuss miRNAs involved in the process of stem cells differentiation into &#946;-cells, resulting in enhanced &#946;-cell functions with respect to diabetic disorders. This paper will also look into the impact of miRNA expression patterns on in vitro proliferation and differentiation of &#946;-cells. The efficacy of the computational genomics and biochemical analysis to link the changes in miRNA expression profiles of stem cell-derived &#946;-cells to therapeutically relevant outputs will be discussed as well.


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