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Whitworth KM, Green JA, Redel BK, Geisert RD, Lee K, Telugu BP, Wells KD, Prather RS. Improvements in pig agriculture through gene editing. CABI AGRICULTURE AND BIOSCIENCE 2022; 3:41. [PMID: 35755158 PMCID: PMC9209828 DOI: 10.1186/s43170-022-00111-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Genetic modification of animals via selective breeding is the basis for modern agriculture. The current breeding paradigm however has limitations, chief among them is the requirement for the beneficial trait to exist within the population. Desirable alleles in geographically isolated breeds, or breeds selected for a different conformation and commercial application, and more importantly animals from different genera or species cannot be introgressed into the population via selective breeding. Additionally, linkage disequilibrium results in low heritability and necessitates breeding over successive generations to fix a beneficial trait within a population. Given the need to sustainably improve animal production to feed an anticipated 9 billion global population by 2030 against a backdrop of infectious diseases and a looming threat from climate change, there is a pressing need for responsive, precise, and agile breeding strategies. The availability of genome editing tools that allow for the introduction of precise genetic modification at a single nucleotide resolution, while also facilitating large transgene integration in the target population, offers a solution. Concordant with the developments in genomic sequencing approaches, progress among germline editing efforts is expected to reach feverish pace. The current manuscript reviews past and current developments in germline engineering in pigs, and the many advantages they confer for advancing animal agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin M. Whitworth
- Division of Animal Science, College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211 USA
| | - Jonathan A. Green
- Division of Animal Science, College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211 USA
| | - Bethany K. Redel
- United States Department of Agriculture – Agriculture Research Service, Plant Genetics Research Unit, Columbia, MO 65211 USA
| | - Rodney D. Geisert
- Division of Animal Science, College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211 USA
| | - Kiho Lee
- Division of Animal Science, College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211 USA
| | - Bhanu P. Telugu
- Division of Animal Science, College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211 USA
| | - Kevin D. Wells
- Division of Animal Science, College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211 USA
| | - Randall S. Prather
- Division of Animal Science, College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211 USA
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2
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Xiao Y, Uh K, Negrón-Pérez VM, Haines H, Lee K, Hansen PJ. Regulation of gene expression in the bovine blastocyst by colony-stimulating factor 2 is disrupted by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of CSF2RA. Biol Reprod 2021; 104:995-1007. [PMID: 33524138 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) functions in the reproductive tract to modulate the function of the preimplantation embryo. The β subunit of the CSF2 receptor (CSF2RB) is not expressed in the embryo, and signal transduction is therefore different than for myeloid cells where the receptor is composed of α (CSF2RA) and β subunits. Here, we produced embryos in which exons 5 and 6 of CSF2RA were disrupted using the CRISPR/Cas 9 system to test whether CSF2RA signaling was essential for actions of CSF2 in the bovine embryo. Wild-type and CSF2RA knockout embryos were treated with 10 ng/mL CSF2 or vehicle at day 5 of development. Blastocysts were harvested at day 8 to determine transcript abundance of 90 genes by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Responses in female blastocysts were examined separately from male blastocysts because actions of CSF2 are sex-dependent. For wild-type embryos, CSF2 altered expression of 10 genes in females and 20 in males. Only three genes were affected by CSF2 in a similar manner for both sexes. Disruption of CSF2RA prevented the effect of CSF2 on expression for 9 of 10 CSF2-regulated genes in females and 19 of 20 genes in males. The results confirm the importance of CSF2RA for regulation of gene expression by CSF2 in the blastocyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Xiao
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kyungjun Uh
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Veronica M Negrón-Pérez
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.,Department of Animal Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR, USA
| | - Hannah Haines
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Kiho Lee
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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3
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Stein P, Savy V, Williams AM, Williams CJ. Modulators of calcium signalling at fertilization. Open Biol 2020; 10:200118. [PMID: 32673518 PMCID: PMC7574550 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.200118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium (Ca2+) signals initiate egg activation across the animal kingdom and in at least some plants. These signals are crucial for the success of development and, in the case of mammals, health of the offspring. The mechanisms associated with fertilization that trigger these signals and the molecules that regulate their characteristic patterns vary widely. With few exceptions, a major contributor to fertilization-induced elevation in cytoplasmic Ca2+ is release from endoplasmic reticulum stores through the IP3 receptor. In some cases, Ca2+ influx from the extracellular space and/or release from alternative intracellular stores contribute to the rise in cytoplasmic Ca2+. Following the Ca2+ rise, the reuptake of Ca2+ into intracellular stores or efflux of Ca2+ out of the egg drive the return of cytoplasmic Ca2+ back to baseline levels. The molecular mediators of these Ca2+ fluxes in different organisms include Ca2+ release channels, uptake channels, exchangers and pumps. The functions of these mediators are regulated by their particular activating mechanisms but also by alterations in their expression and spatial organization. We discuss here the molecular basis for modulation of Ca2+ signalling at fertilization, highlighting differences across several animal phyla, and we mention key areas where questions remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Stein
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Virginia Savy
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Audrey M. Williams
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Carmen J. Williams
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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4
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Wakai T, Mehregan A, Fissore RA. Ca 2+ Signaling and Homeostasis in Mammalian Oocytes and Eggs. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2019; 11:a035162. [PMID: 31427376 PMCID: PMC6886447 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a035162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Changes in the intracellular concentration of calcium ([Ca2+]i) represent a vital signaling mechanism enabling communication between and among cells as well as with the environment. Cells have developed a sophisticated set of molecules, "the Ca2+ toolkit," to adapt [Ca2+]i changes to specific cellular functions. Mammalian oocytes and eggs, the subject of this review, are not an exception, and in fact the initiation of embryo devolvement in all species is entirely dependent on distinct [Ca2+]i responses. Here, we review the components of the Ca2+ toolkit present in mammalian oocytes and eggs, the regulatory mechanisms that allow these cells to accumulate Ca2+ in the endoplasmic reticulum, release it, and maintain basal and stable cytoplasmic concentrations. We also discuss electrophysiological and genetic studies that have uncovered Ca2+ influx channels in oocytes and eggs, and we analyze evidence supporting the role of a sperm-specific phospholipase C isoform as the trigger of Ca2+ oscillations during mammalian fertilization including its implication in fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Wakai
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
| | - Aujan Mehregan
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
| | - Rafael A Fissore
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
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Szpila M, Walewska A, Sabat-Pośpiech D, Strączyńska P, Ishikawa T, Milewski R, Szczepańska K, Ajduk A. Postovulatory ageing modifies sperm-induced Ca 2+ oscillations in mouse oocytes through a conditions-dependent, multi-pathway mechanism. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11859. [PMID: 31413272 PMCID: PMC6694115 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48281-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Postovulatory ageing of mammalian oocytes occurs between their ovulation and fertilization and has been shown to decrease their developmental capabilities. Aged oocytes display numerous abnormalities, including altered Ca2+ signalling. Fertilization-induced Ca2+ oscillations are essential for activation of the embryonic development, therefore maintaining proper Ca2+ homeostasis is crucial for the oocyte quality. In the present paper, we show that the mechanism underlying age-dependent alterations in the pattern of sperm-triggered Ca2+ oscillations is more complex and multifaceted than previously believed. Using time-lapse imaging accompanied by immunostaining and molecular analyses, we found that postovulatory ageing affects the amount of Ca2+ stored in the cell, expression of Ca2+ pump SERCA2, amount of available ATP and distribution of endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria in a manner often strongly depending on ageing conditions (in vitro vs. in vivo). Importantly, those changes do not have to be caused by oxidative stress, usually linked with the ageing process, as they occur even if the amount of reactive oxygen species remains low. Instead, our results suggest that aberrations in Ca2+ signalling may be a synergistic result of ageing-related alterations of the cell cycle, cytoskeleton, and mitochondrial functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Szpila
- Department of Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland.,Laboratory of RNA Biology and Functional Genomics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5A, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Walewska
- Department of Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland.,Laboratory of Intracellular Ion Channels, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pasteura 3, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dorota Sabat-Pośpiech
- Department of Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland.,Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
| | - Patrycja Strączyńska
- Department of Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland.,School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, pl. Traugutta 2, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Takao Ishikawa
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Robert Milewski
- Department of Statistics and Medical Informatics, Medical University of Bialystok, Szpitalna 37, 15-295, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Szczepańska
- Department of Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Ajduk
- Department of Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland.
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6
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Uh K, Ryu J, Zhang L, Errington J, Machaty Z, Lee K. Development of novel oocyte activation approaches using Zn2+ chelators in pigs. Theriogenology 2019; 125:259-267. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Paudel S, Sindelar R, Saha M. Calcium Signaling in Vertebrate Development and Its Role in Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E3390. [PMID: 30380695 PMCID: PMC6274931 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence over the past three decades suggests that altered calcium signaling during development may be a major driving force for adult pathophysiological events. Well over a hundred human genes encode proteins that are specifically dedicated to calcium homeostasis and calcium signaling, and the majority of these are expressed during embryonic development. Recent advances in molecular techniques have identified impaired calcium signaling during development due to either mutations or dysregulation of these proteins. This impaired signaling has been implicated in various human diseases ranging from cardiac malformations to epilepsy. Although the molecular basis of these and other diseases have been well studied in adult systems, the potential developmental origins of such diseases are less well characterized. In this review, we will discuss the recent evidence that examines different patterns of calcium activity during early development, as well as potential medical conditions associated with its dysregulation. Studies performed using various model organisms, including zebrafish, Xenopus, and mouse, have underscored the critical role of calcium activity in infertility, abortive pregnancy, developmental defects, and a range of diseases which manifest later in life. Understanding the underlying mechanisms by which calcium regulates these diverse developmental processes remains a challenge; however, this knowledge will potentially enable calcium signaling to be used as a therapeutic target in regenerative and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudip Paudel
- College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA.
| | - Regan Sindelar
- College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA.
| | - Margaret Saha
- College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA.
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8
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TRPM7 and Ca V3.2 channels mediate Ca 2+ influx required for egg activation at fertilization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E10370-E10378. [PMID: 30322909 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1810422115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The success of mammalian development following fertilization depends on a series of transient increases in egg cytoplasmic Ca2+, referred to as Ca2+ oscillations. Maintenance of these oscillations requires Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane, which is mediated in part by T-type, CaV3.2 channels. Here we show using genetic mouse models that TRPM7 channels are required to support this Ca2+ influx. Eggs lacking both TRPM7 and CaV3.2 stop oscillating prematurely, indicating that together they are responsible for the majority of Ca2+ influx immediately following fertilization. Fertilized eggs lacking both channels also frequently display delayed resumption of Ca2+ oscillations, which appears to require sperm-egg fusion. TRPM7 and CaV3.2 channels almost completely account for Ca2+ influx observed following store depletion, a process previously attributed to canonical store-operated Ca2+ entry mediated by STIM/ORAI interactions. TRPM7 serves as a membrane sensor of extracellular Mg2+ and Ca2+ concentrations and mediates the effects of these ions on Ca2+ oscillation frequency. When bred to wild-type males, female mice carrying eggs lacking TRPM7 and CaV3.2 are subfertile, and their offspring have increased variance in postnatal weight. These in vivo findings confirm previous observations linking in vitro experimental alterations in Ca2+ oscillatory patterns with developmental potential and offspring growth. The identification of TRPM7 and CaV3.2 as key mediators of Ca2+ influx following fertilization provides a mechanistic basis for the rational design of culture media that optimize developmental potential in research animals, domestic animals, and humans.
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Carvacho I, Piesche M, Maier TJ, Machaca K. Ion Channel Function During Oocyte Maturation and Fertilization. Front Cell Dev Biol 2018; 6:63. [PMID: 29998105 PMCID: PMC6028574 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2018.00063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The proper maturation of both male and female gametes is essential for supporting fertilization and the early embryonic divisions. In the ovary, immature fully-grown oocytes that are arrested in prophase I of meiosis I are not able to support fertilization. Acquiring fertilization competence requires resumption of meiosis which encompasses the remodeling of multiple signaling pathways and the reorganization of cellular organelles. Collectively, this differentiation endows the egg with the ability to activate at fertilization and to promote the egg-to-embryo transition. Oocyte maturation is associated with changes in the electrical properties of the plasma membrane and alterations in the function and distribution of ion channels. Therefore, variations on the pattern of expression, distribution, and function of ion channels and transporters during oocyte maturation are fundamental to reproductive success. Ion channels and transporters are important in regulating membrane potential, but also in the case of calcium (Ca2+), they play a critical role in modulating intracellular signaling pathways. In the context of fertilization, Ca2+ has been shown to be the universal activator of development at fertilization, playing a central role in early events associated with egg activation and the egg-to-embryo transition. These early events include the block of polyspermy, the completion of meiosis and the transition to the embryonic mitotic divisions. In this review, we discuss the role of ion channels during oocyte maturation, fertilization and early embryonic development. We will describe how ion channel studies in Xenopus oocytes, an extensively studied model of oocyte maturation, translate into a greater understanding of the role of ion channels in mammalian oocyte physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Carvacho
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Matthias Piesche
- Biomedical Research Laboratories, Medicine Faculty, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Thorsten J. Maier
- Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, Goethe-University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Khaled Machaca
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell-Medicine-Qatar, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
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10
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Zhang L, Chao CH, Jaeger LA, Papp AB, Machaty Z. Calcium oscillations in fertilized pig oocytes are associated with repetitive interactions between STIM1 and ORAI1. Biol Reprod 2018; 98:510-519. [PMID: 29365044 PMCID: PMC5905661 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ca2+ entry mechanism that sustains the Ca2+ oscillations in fertilized pig oocytes was investigated. Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) and ORAI1 proteins tagged with various fluorophores were expressed in the oocytes. In some cells, the Ca2+ stores were depleted using cyclopiazonic acid (CPA); others were inseminated. Changes in the oocytes' cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration were monitored, while interaction between the expressed fusion proteins was investigated using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Store depletion led to an increase of the FRET signal in oocytes co-expressing mVenus-STIM1 and mTurquoise2-ORAI1, indicating that Ca2+ release was followed by an interaction between these proteins. A similar FRET increase in response to CPA was also detected in oocytes co-expressing mVenus-STIM1 and mTurquoise2-STIM1, which is consistent with STIM1 forming punctae after store depletion. ML-9, an inhibitor that can interfere with STIM1 puncta formation, blocked store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) induced by Ca2+ add-back after a CPA treatment; it also disrupted the Ca2+ oscillations in fertilized oocytes. In addition, oocytes overexpressing mVenus-STIM1 showed high-frequency Ca2+ oscillations when fertilized, arguing for an active role of the protein. High-frequency Ca2+ oscillations were also detected in fertilized oocytes co-expressing mVenus-STIM1 and mTurquoise2-ORAI1, and both of these high-frequency Ca2+ oscillations could be stopped by inhibitors of SOCE. Importantly, in oocytes co-expressing mVenus-STIM1 and mTurquoise2-ORAI1, we were also able to detect cyclic increases of the FRET signal indicating repetitive interactions between STIM1 and ORAI1. The results confirm the notion that in pig oocytes, SOCE is involved in the maintenance of the repetitive Ca2+ transients at fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zhang
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Laurie A Jaeger
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Agnes Bali Papp
- Department of Animal Sciences, Széchenyi István University, Győr, Hungary
| | - Zoltan Machaty
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
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11
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Wang W, La Y, Zhou X, Zhang X, Li F, Liu B. The genetic polymorphisms of TGFβ superfamily genes are associated with litter size in a Chinese indigenous sheep breed (Hu sheep). Anim Reprod Sci 2018; 189:19-29. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2017.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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12
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Ferrer-Buitrago M, Bonte D, De Sutter P, Leybaert L, Heindryckx B. Single Ca 2+ transients vs oscillatory Ca 2+ signaling for assisted oocyte activation: limitations and benefits. Reproduction 2017; 155:R105-R119. [PMID: 29122969 DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Oocyte activation is a calcium (Ca2+)-dependent process that has been investigated in depth, in particular, regarding its impact on assisted reproduction technology (ART). Following a standard model of signal transduction, Ca2+ drives the meiotic progression upon fertilization in all species studied to date. However, Ca2+ changes during oocyte activation are species specific, and they can be classified in two modalities based on the pattern defined by the Ca2+ signature: a single Ca2+ transient (e.g. amphibians) or repetitive Ca2+ transients called Ca2+ oscillations (e.g. mammals). Interestingly, assisted oocyte activation (AOA) methods have highlighted the ability of mammalian oocytes to respond to single Ca2+ transients with normal embryonic development. In this regard, there is evidence supporting that cellular events during the process of oocyte activation are initiated by different number of Ca2+ oscillations. Moreover, it was proposed that oocyte activation and subsequent embryonic development are dependent on the total summation of the Ca2+ peaks, rather than to a specific frequency pattern of Ca2+ oscillations. The present review aims to demonstrate the complexity of mammalian oocyte activation by describing the series of Ca2+-linked physiological events involved in mediating the egg-to-embryo transition. Furthermore, mechanisms of AOA and the limitations and benefits associated with the application of different activation agents are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minerva Ferrer-Buitrago
- Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team (G-FaST)Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Davina Bonte
- Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team (G-FaST)Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Petra De Sutter
- Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team (G-FaST)Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Luc Leybaert
- Physiology GroupDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Björn Heindryckx
- Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team (G-FaST)Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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13
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Xu YR, Yang WX. Calcium influx and sperm-evoked calcium responses during oocyte maturation and egg activation. Oncotarget 2017; 8:89375-89390. [PMID: 29179526 PMCID: PMC5687696 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Under the guidance and regulation of hormone signaling, large majority of mammalian oocytes go through twice cell cycle arrest-resumption prior to the fertilized egg splits: oocyte maturation and egg activation. Cytosolic free calcium elevations and endoplasmic reticulum calcium store alternations are actively involved in triggering the complex machineries and events during oogenesis. Among these, calcium influx had been implicated in the replenishment of endoplasmic reticulum store during oocyte maturation and calcium oscillation during egg activation. This process also drove successful fertilization and early embryo development. Store-operated Ca2+ entry, acts as the principal force of calcium influx, is composed of STIM1 and Orai1 on the plasma membrane. Besides, transient receptor potential channels also participate in the process of calcium inwards. In this review, we summarize the recent researches on the spatial-temporal distribution of store-operated calcium entry components and transient receptor potential channels. Questions about how these channels play function for calcium influx and what impacts these channels have on oocytes are discussed. At the time of sperm-egg fusion, sperm-specific factor(s) diffuse and enable eggs to mount intracellular calcium oscillations. In this review, we also focus on the basic knowledge and the modes of action of the potential sperm factor phospholipase C zeta, as well as the downstream receptor, type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor. From the achievement in the previous several decades, it is easy to find that there are too many doubtful points in the field that need researchers take into consideration and take action in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Ru Xu
- The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wan-Xi Yang
- The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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14
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Bernhardt ML, Padilla-Banks E, Stein P, Zhang Y, Williams CJ. Store-operated Ca 2+ entry is not required for fertilization-induced Ca 2+ signaling in mouse eggs. Cell Calcium 2017; 65:63-72. [PMID: 28222911 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2017.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Repetitive oscillations in cytoplasmic Ca2+ due to periodic Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) drive mammalian embryo development following fertilization. Influx of extracellular Ca2+ to support the refilling of ER stores is required for sustained Ca2+ oscillations, but the mechanisms underlying this Ca2+ influx are controversial. Although store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) is an appealing candidate mechanism, several groups have arrived at contradictory conclusions regarding the importance of SOCE in oocytes and eggs. To definitively address this question, Ca2+ influx was assessed in oocytes and eggs lacking the major components of SOCE, the ER Ca2+ sensor STIM proteins, and the plasma membrane Ca2+ channel ORAI1. We generated oocyte-specific conditional knockout (cKO) mice for Stim1 and Stim2, and also generated Stim1/2 double cKO mice. Females lacking one or both STIM proteins were fertile and their ovulated eggs displayed normal patterns of Ca2+ oscillations following fertilization. In addition, no impairment was observed in ER Ca2+ stores or Ca2+ influx following store depletion. Similar studies were performed on eggs from mice globally lacking ORAI1; no abnormalities were observed. Furthermore, spontaneous Ca2+ influx was normal in oocytes from Stim1/2 cKO and ORAI1-null mice. Finally, we tested if TRPM7-like channels could support spontaneous Ca2+ influx, and found that it was largely prevented by NS8593, a TRPM7-specific inhibitor. Fertilization-induced Ca2+ oscillations were also impaired by NS8593. Combined, these data robustly show that SOCE is not required to support appropriate Ca2+ signaling in mouse oocytes and eggs, and that TRPM7-like channels may contribute to Ca2+ influx that was previously attributed to SOCE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda L Bernhardt
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Elizabeth Padilla-Banks
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Paula Stein
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Yingpei Zhang
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Carmen J Williams
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
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15
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Fertility: Store-Operated Ca 2+ Entry in Germ Cells: Role in Egg Activation. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 993:577-593. [PMID: 28900934 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-57732-6_29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
At the time of fertilization, the sperm activates the egg and induces embryonic development by triggering an elevation in the egg's intracellular free Ca2+ concentration. In mammals the initial Ca2+ rise is followed by a series of repetitive Ca2+ transients (known as oscillations) that last for several hours. Although the source of Ca2+ during the signaling process is primarily the egg's smooth endoplasmic reticulum, the oscillations stop in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ indicating that a Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane is essential to sustain them. Depletion of the intracellular stores using specific inhibitors generates a Ca2+ entry across the plasma membrane of eggs of various species, and a continuous influx of Ca2+ has been linked to the sperm-induced Ca2+ oscillations in the mouse; these data indicate that store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) operates in eggs and may be the mechanism that maintains the long-lasting Ca2+ signal at fertilization. Recent findings suggest that the signaling proteins STIM1 and Orai1 are present in eggs; they are responsible for mediating SOCE, and their functions are essential for proper Ca2+ signaling at fertilization to support normal embryo development.
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16
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17
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Machaty Z. Signal transduction in mammalian oocytes during fertilization. Cell Tissue Res 2016; 363:169-183. [PMID: 26453398 PMCID: PMC4700098 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-015-2291-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian embryo development begins when the fertilizing sperm triggers a series of elevations in the oocyte's intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration. The elevations are the result of repeated release and re-uptake of Ca(2+) stored in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Ca(2+) release is primarily mediated by the phosphoinositide signaling system of the oocyte. The system is stimulated when the sperm causes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) into inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG); IP3 then binds its receptor on the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum that induces Ca(2+) release. The manner in which the sperm generates IP3, the Ca(2+) mobilizing second messenger, has been the subject of extensive research for a long time. The sperm factor hypothesis has eventually gained general acceptance, according to which it is a molecule from the sperm that diffuses into the ooplasm and stimulates the phosphoinositide cascade. Much evidence now indicates that the sperm-derived factor is phospholipase C-zeta (PLCζ) that cleaves PIP2 and generates IP3, eventually leading to oocyte activation. A recent addition to the candidate sperm factor list is the post-acrosomal sheath WW domain-binding protein (PAWP), whose role at fertilization is currently under debate. Ca(2+) influx across the plasma membrane is also important as, in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+), the oscillations run down prematurely. In pig oocytes, the influx that sustains the oscillations seems to be regulated by the filling status of the stores, whereas in the mouse other mechanisms might be involved. This work summarizes the current understanding of Ca(2+) signaling in mammalian oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoltan Machaty
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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18
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Bernhardt ML, Zhang Y, Erxleben CF, Padilla-Banks E, McDonough CE, Miao YL, Armstrong DL, Williams CJ. CaV3.2 T-type channels mediate Ca²⁺ entry during oocyte maturation and following fertilization. J Cell Sci 2015; 128:4442-52. [PMID: 26483387 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.180026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Initiation of mouse embryonic development depends upon a series of fertilization-induced rises in intracellular Ca(2+). Complete egg activation requires influx of extracellular Ca(2+); however, the channels that mediate this influx remain unknown. Here, we tested whether the α1 subunit of the T-type channel CaV3.2, encoded by Cacna1h, mediates Ca(2+) entry into oocytes. We show that mouse eggs express a robust voltage-activated Ca(2+) current that is completely absent in Cacna1h(-/-) eggs. Cacna1h(-/-) females have reduced litter sizes, and careful analysis of Ca(2+) oscillation patterns in Cacna1h(-/-) eggs following in vitro fertilization (IVF) revealed reductions in first transient length and oscillation persistence. Total and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+) stores were also reduced in Cacna1h(-/-) eggs. Pharmacological inhibition of CaV3.2 in wild-type CF-1 strain eggs using mibefradil or pimozide reduced Ca(2+) store accumulation during oocyte maturation and reduced Ca(2+) oscillation persistence, frequency and number following IVF. Overall, these data show that CaV3.2 T-type channels have prev8iously unrecognized roles in supporting the meiotic-maturation-associated increase in ER Ca(2+) stores and mediating Ca(2+) influx required for the activation of development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda L Bernhardt
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Yingpei Zhang
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Christian F Erxleben
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Elizabeth Padilla-Banks
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Caitlin E McDonough
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Yi-Liang Miao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - David L Armstrong
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Carmen J Williams
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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19
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Yeste M, Jones C, Amdani SN, Patel S, Coward K. Oocyte activation deficiency: a role for an oocyte contribution? Hum Reprod Update 2015; 22:23-47. [DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmv040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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20
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Wang C, Zhang L, Jaeger LA, Machaty Z. Store-Operated Ca2+ Entry Sustains the Fertilization Ca2+ Signal in Pig Eggs. Biol Reprod 2015; 93:25. [PMID: 26063872 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.114.126151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2014] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) in the maintenance of sperm-induced Ca(2+) oscillations was investigated in porcine eggs. We found that 10 μM gadolinium (Gd(3+)), which is known to inhibit SOCE, blocked Ca(2+) entry that was triggered by thapsigargin-induced store depletion and also caused an abrupt cessation of the fertilization Ca(2+) signal. In a similar manner 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole 2 (20 μM), and tetrapandin-2 (10 μM), potent SOCE inhibitors, also blocked thapsigargin-stimulated Ca(2+) entry and disrupted the Ca(2+) oscillations after sperm-egg fusion. The downregulation of Stim1 or Orai1 in the eggs did not alter the Ca(2+) content of the intracellular stores, whereas co-overexpression of these proteins led to the generation of irregular Ca(2+) transients after fertilization that stopped prematurely. We also found that thapsigargin completely emptied the endoplasmic reticulum, and that the series of Ca(2+) transients stopped abruptly after the addition of thapsigargin to the fertilized eggs, indicating that the proper reloading of the intracellular stores is a prerequisite for the maintenance of the Ca(2+) oscillations. These data strengthen our previous findings that in porcine eggs SOCE is a major signaling cascade that is responsible for sustaining the repetitive Ca(2+) signal at fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmin Wang
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - Laurie A Jaeger
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - Zoltan Machaty
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
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21
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An R, Wang C, Turek J, Machaty Z, Nolte DD. Biodynamic imaging of live porcine oocytes, zygotes and blastocysts for viability assessment in assisted reproductive technologies. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2015; 6:963-76. [PMID: 25798318 PMCID: PMC4361448 DOI: 10.1364/boe.6.000963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Revised: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The success of assisted reproductive technologies relies on accurate assessment of reproductive viability at successive stages of development for oocytes and embryos. The current scoring system used to select good-quality oocytes relies on morphologically observable traits and hence is indirect and subjective. Biodynamic imaging may provide an objective approach to oocyte and embryo assessment by measuring physiologically-relevant dynamics. Biodynamic imaging is a coherence-gated approach to 3D tissue imaging that uses digital holography to perform low-coherence speckle interferometry to capture dynamic light scattering from intracellular motions. The changes in intracellular activity during cumulus oocyte complex maturation, before and after in vitro fertilization, and the subsequent development of the zygote and blastocyst provide a new approach to the assessment of preimplant candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran An
- Dept. of Physics, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN 47907
USA
| | - Chunmin Wang
- Dept. of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN 47907
USA
| | - John Turek
- Dept. of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN 47907
USA
| | - Zoltan Machaty
- Dept. of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN 47907
USA
| | - David D. Nolte
- Dept. of Physics, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN 47907
USA
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22
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Kwon YR, Jeong MH, Leem YE, Lee SJ, Kim HJ, Bae GU, Kang JS. The Shh coreceptor Cdo is required for differentiation of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Stem Cell Res 2014; 13:262-74. [PMID: 25117422 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2014.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2014] [Revised: 07/12/2014] [Accepted: 07/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling is required for numerous developmental processes including specification of ventral cell types in the central nervous system such as midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons. The multifunctional coreceptor Cdo increases the signaling activity of Shh which is crucial for development of forebrain and neural tube. In this study, we investigated the role of Cdo in midbrain DA neurogenesis. Cdo and Shh signaling components are induced during neurogenesis of embryonic stem (ES) cells. Cdo(-/-) ES cells show reduced neuronal differentiation accompanied by increased cell death upon neuronal induction. In addition, Cdo(-/-) ES cells form fewer tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2)-positive DA neurons correlating with the decreased expression of key regulators of DA neurogenesis, such as Shh, Neurogenin2, Mash1, Foxa2, Lmx1a, Nurr1 and Pitx3, relative to the Cdo(+/+) ES cells. Consistently, the Cdo(-/-) embryonic midbrain displays a reduction in expression of TH and Nurr1. Furthermore, activation of Shh signaling by treatment with Purmorphamine (Pur) restores the DA neurogenesis of Cdo(-/-) ES cells, suggesting that Cdo is required for the full Shh signaling activation to induce efficient DA neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Rim Kwon
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea
| | - Myong-Ho Jeong
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Eun Leem
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Jin Lee
- Research Center for Cell Fate Control, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 140-742, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Jin Kim
- Department of Physiology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyu-Un Bae
- Research Center for Cell Fate Control, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 140-742, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jong-Sun Kang
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea.
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23
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Lee K, Wang C, Spate L, Murphy CN, Prather RS, Machaty Z. Gynogenetic Activation of Porcine Oocytes. Cell Reprogram 2014; 16:121-9. [DOI: 10.1089/cell.2013.0074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kiho Lee
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65201
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Chunmin Wang
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Lee Spate
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65201
| | - Clifton N. Murphy
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65201
| | - Randall S. Prather
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65201
| | - Zoltan Machaty
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907
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24
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Behaviour of cytoplasmic organelles and cytoskeleton during oocyte maturation. Reprod Biomed Online 2013; 28:284-99. [PMID: 24444815 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2013.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2013] [Revised: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Assisted reproduction technology (ART) has become an attractive option for infertility treatment and holds tremendous promise. However, at present, there is still room for improvement in its success rates. Oocyte maturation is a process by which the oocyte becomes competent for fertilization and subsequent embryo development. To better understand the mechanism underlying oocyte maturation and for the future improvement of assisted reproduction technology, this review focuses on the complex processes of cytoplasmic organelles and the dynamic alterations of the cytoskeleton that occur during oocyte maturation. Ovarian stimulation and in-vitro maturation are the major techniques used in assisted reproduction technology and their influence on the organelles of oocytes is also discussed. Since the first birth by assisted reproduction treatment was achieved in 1978, numerous techniques involved in assisted reproduction have been developed and have become attractive options for infertility treatment. However, the unsatisfactory success rate remains as a main challenge. Oocyte maturation is a process by which the oocyte becomes competent for fertilization and subsequent embryo development. Oocyte maturation includes both nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation. Nuclear maturation primarily involves chromosomal segregation, which has been well studied, whereas cytoplasmic maturation involves a series of complicated processes, and there are still many parts of this process that remain controversial. Ovarian stimulation and in-vitro maturation (IVM) are the major techniques of assisted reproduction. The effect of ovarian stimulation or IVM on the behaviour of cell organelles of the oocyte has been postulated as the reason for the reduced developmental potential of in-vitro-produced embryos. To further understanding of the mechanism of oocyte maturation and future improvement of assisted reproduction treatment, the complex events of cytoplasmic organelles and the cytoskeleton that occur during oocyte maturation and the influence of ovarian stimulation and IVM on these organelles are described in this review.
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25
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Wakai T, Zhang N, Vangheluwe P, Fissore RA. Regulation of endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) oscillations in mammalian eggs. J Cell Sci 2013; 126:5714-24. [PMID: 24101727 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.136549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in the intracellular concentration of free calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) regulate diverse cellular processes including fertilization. In mammalian eggs, the [Ca(2+)]i changes induced by the sperm unfold in a pattern of periodical rises, also known as [Ca(2+)]i oscillations. The source of Ca(2+) during oscillations is the endoplasmic reticulum ([Ca(2+)]ER), but it is presently unknown how [Ca(2+)]ER is regulated. Here, we show using mouse eggs that [Ca(2+)]i oscillations induced by a variety of agonists, including PLCζ, SrCl2 and thimerosal, provoke simultaneous but opposite changes in [Ca(2+)]ER and cause differential effects on the refilling and overall load of [Ca(2+)]ER. We also found that Ca(2+) influx is required to refill [Ca(2+)]ER, because the loss of [Ca(2+)]ER was accelerated in medium devoid of Ca(2+). Pharmacological inactivation of the function of the mitochondria and of the Ca(2+)-ATPase pumps PMCA and SERCA altered the pattern of oscillations and abruptly reduced [Ca(2+)]ER, especially after inactivation of mitochondria and SERCA functions. We also examined the expression of SERCA2b protein and found that it was expressed throughout oocyte maturation and attained a conspicuous cortical cluster organization in mature eggs. We show that its overexpression reduces the duration of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced [Ca(2+)]i rises, promotes initiation of oscillations and enhances refilling of [Ca(2+)]ER. Collectively, our results provide novel insights on the regulation of [Ca(2+)]ER oscillations, which underlie the unique Ca(2+)-signalling system that activates the developmental program in mammalian eggs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Wakai
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 661 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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26
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Kashir J, Deguchi R, Jones C, Coward K, Stricker SA. Comparative biology of sperm factors and fertilization-induced calcium signals across the animal kingdom. Mol Reprod Dev 2013; 80:787-815. [PMID: 23900730 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2013] [Accepted: 07/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Fertilization causes mature oocytes or eggs to increase their concentrations of intracellular calcium ions (Ca²⁺) in all animals that have been examined, and such Ca²⁺ elevations, in turn, provide key activating signals that are required for non-parthenogenetic development. Several lines of evidence indicate that the Ca²⁺ transients produced during fertilization in mammals and other taxa are triggered by soluble factors that sperm deliver into oocytes after gamete fusion. Thus, for a broad-based analysis of Ca²⁺ dynamics during fertilization in animals, this article begins by summarizing data on soluble sperm factors in non-mammalian species, and subsequently reviews various topics related to a sperm-specific phospholipase C, called PLCζ, which is believed to be the predominant activator of mammalian oocytes. After characterizing initiation processes that involve sperm factors or alternative triggering mechanisms, the spatiotemporal patterns of Ca²⁺ signals in fertilized oocytes or eggs are compared in a taxon-by-taxon manner, and broadly classified as either a single major transient or a series of repetitive oscillations. Both solitary and oscillatory types of fertilization-induced Ca²⁺ signals are typically propagated as global waves that depend on Ca²⁺ release from the endoplasmic reticulum in response to increased concentrations of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃). Thus, for taxa where relevant data are available, upstream pathways that elevate intraoocytic IP3 levels during fertilization are described, while other less-common modes of producing Ca²⁺ transients are also examined. In addition, the importance of fertilization-induced Ca²⁺ signals for activating development is underscored by noting some major downstream effects of these signals in various animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junaid Kashir
- Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK
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27
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Abstract
Calcium (Ca2+) signals are involved in the regulation of oocyte maturation and play a critical role during fertilization. In the egg, Ca2+is stored in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum and a signal is generated when the stored Ca2+is released through specialized channels in the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum to elevate the free Ca2+concentration in the cytoplasm. Extracellular Ca2+is also important, indicated by the fact that the mobilization of luminal Ca2+is typically followed by Ca2+entry across the plasma membrane. The transmembrane Ca2+flux replenishes the endoplasmic reticulum, and thus, it is essential to sustain prolonged Ca2+signals. It also seems to be responsible for the stimulation of important signaling cascades required for complete egg activation. Characterization of the pathway that mediates Ca2+entry implies that its major components include STIM1, a protein that senses the filling status of the stores, and ORAI1, a channel protein located in the plasma membrane. Defining the mechanism and functions of Ca2+entry will not only lead to a better understanding of egg physiology but may also help improving the efficiency of a number of assisted reproductive technologies.
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28
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Cheon B, Lee HC, Wakai T, Fissore RA. Ca2+ influx and the store-operated Ca2+ entry pathway undergo regulation during mouse oocyte maturation. Mol Biol Cell 2013; 24:1396-410. [PMID: 23468522 PMCID: PMC3639051 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e13-01-0065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in Ca2+ homeostasis render oocytes competent to undergo [Ca2+]i oscillations and activation. During mouse oocyte maturation Ca2+ influx and SOCE are down-regulated, whereas [Ca2+]ER content increases. Bypassing the down-regulation of Ca2+ influx disturbs oocyte maturation. In preparation for fertilization, mammalian oocytes undergo optimization of the mechanisms that regulate calcium homeostasis. Among these changes is the increase in the content of the Ca2+ stores ([Ca2+]ER), a process that requires Ca2+ influx. Nevertheless, the mechanism(s) that mediates this influx remains obscure, although is known that [Ca2+]ER can regulate Ca2+ influx via store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). We find that during maturation, as [Ca2+]ER increases, Ca2+ influx decreases. We demonstrate that mouse oocytes/eggs express the two molecular components of SOCE—stromal interaction molecule 1 (Stim1) and Orai1—and expression of human (h) Stim1 increases Ca2+ influx in a manner that recapitulates endogenous SOCE. We observe that the cellular distribution of hStim1 and hOrai1 during maturation undergoes sweeping changes that curtail their colocalization during the later stages of maturation. Coexpression of hStim1 and hOrai1 enhances influx throughout maturation but increases basal Ca2+ levels only in GV oocytes. Further, expression of a constitutive active form of hStim1 plus Orai1, which increases basal Ca2+ throughout maturation, disturbs resumption of meiosis. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Ca2+ influx and SOCE are regulated during maturation and that alteration of Ca2+ homeostasis undermines maturation in mouse oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banyoon Cheon
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01002, USA
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29
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Lee B, Palermo G, Machaca K. Downregulation of store-operated Ca2+ entry during mammalian meiosis is required for the egg-to-embryo transition. J Cell Sci 2013; 126:1672-81. [PMID: 23424198 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.121335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A specialized Ca(2+) transient at fertilization represents the universal driver for the egg-to-embryo transition. Ca(2+) signaling remodels during oocyte maturation to endow the egg with the capacity to produce the specialized Ca(2+) transient at fertilization, which takes the form of a single (e.g. Xenopus) or multiple (e.g. mouse) Ca(2+) spikes depending on the species. Store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) is the predominant Ca(2+) influx pathway in vertebrate oocytes, and in Xenopus SOCE completely inactivates during meiosis. Here, we show that SOCE is downregulated during mouse meiosis, but remains active in mature metaphase II eggs. SOCE inhibition is due to a decreased ability of the Ca(2+) sensor STIM1 to translocate to the cortical endoplasmic reticulum domain and due to internalization of Orai1. Reversing SOCE downregulation by overexpression of STIM1 and Orai1 prolongs the Ca(2+) oscillations at egg activation and disrupts the egg-to-embryo transition. Thus, SOCE downregulation during mammalian oocyte maturation is a crucial determinant of the fertilization-specific Ca(2+) transient, egg activation and early embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bora Lee
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA
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30
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Ca(2+) homeostasis and regulation of ER Ca(2+) in mammalian oocytes/eggs. Cell Calcium 2012; 53:63-7. [PMID: 23260016 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2012.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Revised: 11/02/2012] [Accepted: 11/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The activation of the developmental program in mammalian eggs relies on the initiation at the time of fertilization of repeated rises in the intracellular concentration of free calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)), also known as [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations. The ability to mount the full complement of oscillations is only achieved at the end of oocyte maturation, at the metaphase stage of meiosis II (MII). Over the last decades research has focused on addressing the mechanisms by which the sperm initiates the oscillations and identification of the channels that mediate intracellular Ca(2+) release. This review will describe the up-to-date knowledge of other aspects of Ca(2+) homeostasis in mouse oocytes, such as the mechanisms that transport Ca(2+) out of the cytosol into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the Ca(2+) store of the oocyte/egg, into other organelles and also those that extrude Ca(2+). Evidence pointing to channels in the plasma membrane that mediate Ca(2+) entry from the extracellular milieu, which is required for the persistence of the oscillations, is also discussed, along with the modifications that these mechanisms undergo during maturation. Lastly, we highlight areas where additional research is needed to obtain a better understating of the molecules and mechanisms that regulate Ca(2+) homeostasis in this unique Ca(2+) signaling system.
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Takahashi T, Kikuchi T, Kidokoro Y, Shirakawa H. Ca²⁺ influx-dependent refilling of intracellular Ca²⁺ stores determines the frequency of Ca²⁺ oscillations in fertilized mouse eggs. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2012; 430:60-5. [PMID: 23159627 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2012] [Accepted: 11/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
On mammalian fertilization, long-lasting Ca(2+) oscillations are induced in the egg by the fusing spermatozoon. While each transient Ca(2+) increase in Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]) in the cytosol is due to Ca(2+) release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Ca(2+) influx from outside is required for Ca(2+) oscillations to persist. In this study, we investigated how Ca(2+) influx is interrelated to the cycle of Ca(2+) release and uptake by the intracellular Ca(2+) stores during Ca(2+) oscillations in fertilized mouse eggs. In addition to monitoring cytosolic [Ca(2+)] with fura-2, the influx rate was evaluated using Mn(2+) quenching technique, and the change in [Ca(2+)] in the ER lumen was visualized with a targeted fluorescent probe. We found that the influx was stimulated after each transient Ca(2+) release and then diminished gradually to the basal level, and demonstrated that the ER Ca(2+) stores once depleted by Ca(2+) release were gradually refilled until the next Ca(2+) transient to be initiated. Experiments altering extracellular [Ca(2+)] in the middle of Ca(2+) oscillations revealed the dependence of both the refilling rate and the oscillation frequency on the rate of Ca(2+) influx, indicating the crucial role of Ca(2+) influx in determining the intervals of Ca(2+) transients. As for the influx pathway supporting Ca(2+) oscillations to persist, STIM1/Orai1-mediated store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) may not significantly contribute, since neither known SOCE blockers nor the expression of protein fragments that interfere the interaction between STIM1 and Orai1 inhibited the oscillation frequency or the influx rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tooru Takahashi
- Department of Applied Physics and Chemistry, The University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo 182-8585, Japan
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Miao YL, Williams CJ. Calcium signaling in mammalian egg activation and embryo development: the influence of subcellular localization. Mol Reprod Dev 2012; 79:742-56. [PMID: 22888043 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2012] [Accepted: 07/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Calcium (Ca(2+) ) signals drive the fundamental events surrounding fertilization and the activation of development in all species examined to date. Initial studies of Ca(2+) signaling at fertilization in marine animals were tightly linked to new discoveries of bioluminescent proteins and their use as fluorescent Ca(2+) sensors. Since that time, there has been rapid progress in our understanding of the key functions for Ca(2+) in many cell types and of the impact of cellular localization on Ca(2+) signaling pathways. In this review, which focuses on mammalian egg activation, we consider how Ca(2+) is regulated and stored at different stages of oocyte development and examine the functions of molecules that serve as both regulators of Ca(2+) release and effectors of Ca(2+) signals. We then summarize studies exploring how Ca(2+) directs downstream effectors mediating both egg activation and later signaling events required for successful preimplantation embryo development. Throughout this review, we focus attention on how localization of Ca(2+) signals influences downstream signaling events, and attempt to highlight gaps in our knowledge that are ripe for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Liang Miao
- Reproductive Medicine Group, Laboratory of Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
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