Plant gametes as tools for molecular breeding

2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-301
Author(s):  
B. Barnabás ◽  
Z. Pónya ◽  
F. Bakos ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Biology ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Molecular Breeding ◽  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Embryo Sac ◽  
Flowering Plants ◽  
Cereal Crops ◽  
Egg Cell

Sexual reproduction plays an essential role in the propagation of Angiosperms. Fertilisation takes place in the embryo sac, which is usually deeply encased in the sporophytic tissues of the ovule. In contrast to animals and primitive plants, the mechanism of egg cell activation in flowering plants has not been discovered fully because of the inaccessibility and complexity of the process of double fertilisation. However, recent advances in plant cell and molecular biology have brought new, powerful technologies to investigate and micromanipulate the reproductive cells of flowering plants including cereal crops. An experimental approach based on various micromanipulation techniques involving in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and microinjection procedures is now available in more and more laboratories. Despite some limitations this offers new possibilities to study cellular and subcellular events preceding or occurring during or after egg cell activation and early embryonic development. Recent achievements in the field of wheat egg cell micromanipulation are presented in this paper.

Isolation of egg cells and zygotes of Torenia fournieri L. and determination of their surface charge

Zygote ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.H. Chen ◽  
Y.H. Yang ◽  
J.P. Liao ◽  
A.X. Kuang ◽  
H.Q. Tian
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Molecular Biology ◽  
Surface Charge ◽  
Enzymatic Digestion ◽  
Egg Cell ◽  
Sperm Cells ◽  
Torenia Fournieri ◽  
Successful Isolation

SummaryEgg cells of Torenia fournieri were isolated from embryo sacs 1 day after anthesis using enzymatic digestion or mechanical dissection. About 5% of the egg cells and zygotes (2–3 from 50 ovules) could be mechanically dissected within 2 h. When 0.1% cellulase and 0.1% pectinase were added to the mannitol isolation solution, about 18% of the egg cells (8–10 from 50 ovules) could be isolated within 2 h. The egg cells isolated by mechanical dissection could be used for in vitro fertilization studies without any of the potentially deleterious effects of the enzymes on the plasma membrane of egg cell. The egg cells isolated using enzymatic digestion could be used in the study of the molecular biology of female gamete because more egg cells could be isolated with this technique. Using enzymatic digestion, over 10 zygotes from 50 ovules (over 20%) were isolated from the pollinated ovules. Coupled with our successful isolation of mature sperm cells, the isolation of egg cells of T. fournieri will make in vitro fertilization possible in a dicotyledon plant.

First evidence of a calcium transient in flowering plants at fertilization

Development ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 124 (15) ◽  
pp. 2867-2874 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Digonnet ◽  
D. Aldon ◽  
N. Leduc ◽  
C. Dumas ◽  
M. Rougier
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Transient ◽  
Flowering Plants ◽  
Flowering Plant ◽  
Egg Cell ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Zygote Development ◽  
Early Zygote ◽  
Transient Elevation ◽  
Indicator Dye

We report here the first evidence of a transient elevation of free cytosolic Ca2+ following fusion of sperm and egg cell in a flowering plant by the use of an in vitro fertilization system recently developed in maize. Imaging changes in cytosolic Ca2+ at fertilization was undertaken by egg cell loading with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator dye fluo-3 under controlled physiological conditions. The gamete adhesion step did not induce any cytosolic Ca2+ variation in the egg cell, whereas the fusion step triggered a transient cytosolic Ca2+ rise in the fertilized egg cell, lasting several minutes. This rise occurred after the establishment of gamete cytoplasm continuity. Through these observations, we open the way to the identification of the early signals induced by fertilization in flowering plants that give rise to the calcium transient and to investigations of the role of Ca2+ during egg activation and early zygote development in plants, as has been reported for other better characterized animal and algae systems.

Isolation of protoplasts from viable egg cells of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.)

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 593-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sun Hee Woo ◽  
Taiji Adachi ◽  
Seung Keun Jong ◽  
Clayton G. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Embryo Sac ◽  
Fagopyrum Esculentum ◽  
Enzyme Treatment ◽  
Egg Cell ◽  
Common Buckwheat ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Mechanical Isolation ◽  
Fagopyrum Esculentum Moench

In vitro fertilization could be useful to overcome the problem of self-incompatibility of common buckwheat. Therefore, experiments were conducted to isolate viable protoplasts from egg cells for use in vitro fertilization. Protoplasts from viable egg cells of common buckwheat were isolated by enzyme treatment followed by mechanical isolation. Incubation of ovules for up to 4 h allowed the boundary wall of the egg cells to become partially digested and the protoplasts of the egg cells came out of the micropylar or chalazal end after squashing with a mean isolation frequency of approximately 30% (6 out of 20 ovules). The egg cell protoplasts were larger than those of the synergids. Key words: Common buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum Moench., protoplast, egg cell solation, embryo sac

scholarly journals AB0024 IN VITRO CHARACTERIZATION OF CENERIMOD, A POTENT AND SELECTIVE SPHINGOSINE 1-PHOSPHATE RECEPTOR 1 (S1P1) MODULATOR IN PREVENTING MIGRATION OF NON-ACTIVATED AND ACTIVATED PRIMARY HUMAN B CELLS IN THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF GLUCOCORTICOIDS

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1046.1-1046
Author(s):  
L. Schlicher ◽  
P. Kulig ◽  
M. Murphy ◽  
M. Keller
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
B Lymphocytes ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
Cell Surface Expression ◽  
B Cell Activation ◽  
Human B Cells ◽  
Circulating Lymphocytes

Background:Cenerimod is a potent, selective, and orally active sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1) modulator that is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2b study in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (NCT03742037). S1P1 receptor modulators sequester circulating lymphocytes within lymph nodes, thereby reducing pathogenic autoimmune cells (including B lymphocytes) in the blood stream and in inflamed tissues. Extensive clinical experience has become available for the nonselective S1P receptor modulator fingolimod in relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, supporting this therapeutic concept for the treatment of autoimmune disorders.Objectives:Although the effect of S1P-receptor modulators in reducing peripheral B cells is well documented1,2, the role of the S1P1 receptor on this cell type is only incompletely understood. In this study, the mode of action of cenerimod on primary human B cells was investigated in a series of in vitro experiments, including S1P1 receptor cell surface expression and chemotaxis towards S1P. Moreover, S1P1 expression following B cell activation in vitro was studied. As glucocorticoids (GC) are frequently used in the treatment of patients with autoimmune disorders including SLE, the potential influence of GC on the mode of action of cenerimod was evaluated.Methods:Primary human B lymphocytes from healthy donors were isolated from whole blood. In one set of experiments, cells were treated with different concentrations of cenerimod to measure S1P1 receptor internalization by flow cytometry. In a second set of experiments, isolated B cells were activated using different stimuli or left untreated. Cells were then analysed for S1P1 and CD69 cell surface expression and tested in a novel real-time S1P-mediated migration assay. In addition, the effect of physiological concentrations of GCs (prednisolone and prednisone) on cenerimod activity in preventing S1P mediated migration was tested.Results:In vitro, cenerimod led to a dose-dependent internalization of the S1P1 receptor on primary human B lymphocytes. Cenerimod also blocked migration of nonactivated and activated B lymphocytes towards S1P in a concentration-dependent manner, which is in line with the retention of lymphocytes in the lymph node and the reduction of circulating lymphocytes observed in the clinical setting. Upon B cell activation, which was monitored by CD69 upregulation, a simultaneous downregulation of S1P1 expression was detected, leading to less efficient S1P-directed cell migration. Importantly, physiological concentrations of GC did not affect the inhibitory activity of cenerimod on B cell migration.Conclusion:These results show that cenerimod, by modulating S1P1, blocks B lymphocyte migration towards its natural chemoattractant S1P and demonstrate compatibility of cenerimod with GC. These results are consistent with results of comparable experiments done previously using primary human T lymphocytes.References:[1]Nakamura M et al., Mult Scler. 2014 Sep; 20(10):1371-80.[2]Strasser DS et al., RMD Open 2020;6:e001261.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Natural killer T cell immunotherapy combined with oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus or reovirus treatments differentially increases survival in mouse models of ovarian and breast cancer metastasis

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e002096
Author(s):  
Simon Gebremeskel ◽  
Adam Nelson ◽  
Brynn Walker ◽  
Tora Oliphant ◽  
Lynnea Lobert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Tumor Burden ◽  
Oncolytic Viruses ◽  
Nkt Cell ◽  
Cell Immunotherapy ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis ◽  
Better Than

BackgroundOncolytic viruses reduce tumor burden in animal models and have generated promising results in clinical trials. However, it is likely that oncolytic viruses will be more effective when used in combination with other therapies. Current therapeutic approaches, including chemotherapeutics, come with dose-limiting toxicities. Another option is to combine oncolytic viruses with immunotherapeutic approaches.MethodsUsing experimental models of metastatic 4T1 breast cancer and ID8 ovarian peritoneal carcinomatosis, we examined natural killer T (NKT) cell-based immunotherapy in combination with recombinant oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) or reovirus. 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells or ID8 ovarian cancer cells were injected into syngeneic mice. Tumor-bearing mice were treated with VSV or reovirus followed by activation of NKT cells via the intravenous administration of autologous dendritic cells loaded with the glycolipid antigen α-galactosylceramide. The effects of VSV and reovirus on immunogenic cell death (ICD), cell viability and immunogenicity were tested in vitro.ResultsVSV or reovirus treatments followed by NKT cell activation mediated greater survival in the ID8 model than individual therapies. The regimen was less effective when the treatment order was reversed, delivering virus treatments after NKT cell activation. In the 4T1 model, VSV combined with NKT cell activation increased overall survival and decreased metastatic burden better than individual treatments. In contrast, reovirus was not effective on its own or in combination with NKT cell activation. In vitro, VSV killed a panel of tumor lines better than reovirus. VSV infection also elicited greater increases in mRNA transcripts for proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and antigen presentation machinery compared with reovirus. Oncolytic VSV also induced the key hallmarks of ICD (calreticulin mobilization, plus release of ATP and HMGB1), while reovirus only mobilized calreticulin.ConclusionTaken together, these results demonstrate that oncolytic VSV and NKT cell immunotherapy can be effectively combined to decrease tumor burden in models of metastatic breast and ovarian cancers. Oncolytic VSV and reovirus induced differential responses in our models which may relate to differences in virus activity or tumor susceptibility.

scholarly journals CRL4-DCAF12 Ubiquitin Ligase Controls MOV10 RNA Helicase during Spermatogenesis and T Cell Activation

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 5394
Author(s):  
Tomas Lidak ◽  
Nikol Baloghova ◽  
Vladimir Korinek ◽  
Radislav Sedlacek ◽  
Jana Balounova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Ubiquitin Ligase ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Rna Helicase ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Risc Complex ◽  
Wide Range

Multisubunit cullin-RING ubiquitin ligase 4 (CRL4)-DCAF12 recognizes the C-terminal degron containing acidic amino acid residues. However, its physiological roles and substrates are largely unknown. Purification of CRL4-DCAF12 complexes revealed a wide range of potential substrates, including MOV10, an “ancient” RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) complex RNA helicase. We show that DCAF12 controls the MOV10 protein level via its C-terminal motif in a proteasome- and CRL-dependent manner. Next, we generated Dcaf12 knockout mice and demonstrated that the DCAF12-mediated degradation of MOV10 is conserved in mice and humans. Detailed analysis of Dcaf12-deficient mice revealed that their testes produce fewer mature sperms, phenotype accompanied by elevated MOV10 and imbalance in meiotic markers SCP3 and γ-H2AX. Additionally, the percentages of splenic CD4+ T and natural killer T (NKT) cell populations were significantly altered. In vitro, activated Dcaf12-deficient T cells displayed inappropriately stabilized MOV10 and increased levels of activated caspases. In summary, we identified MOV10 as a novel substrate of CRL4-DCAF12 and demonstrated the biological relevance of the DCAF12-MOV10 pathway in spermatogenesis and T cell activation.

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