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Latham KE. Preimplantation embryo gene expression: 56 years of discovery, and counting. Mol Reprod Dev 2023; 90:169-200. [PMID: 36812478 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The biology of preimplantation embryo gene expression began 56 years ago with studies of the effects of protein synthesis inhibition and discovery of changes in embryo metabolism and related enzyme activities. The field accelerated rapidly with the emergence of embryo culture systems and progressively evolving methodologies that have allowed early questions to be re-addressed in new ways and in greater detail, leading to deeper understanding and progressively more targeted studies to discover ever more fine details. The advent of technologies for assisted reproduction, preimplantation genetic testing, stem cell manipulations, artificial gametes, and genetic manipulation, particularly in experimental animal models and livestock species, has further elevated the desire to understand preimplantation development in greater detail. The questions that drove enquiry from the earliest years of the field remain drivers of enquiry today. Our understanding of the crucial roles of oocyte-expressed RNA and proteins in early embryos, temporal patterns of embryonic gene expression, and mechanisms controlling embryonic gene expression has increased exponentially over the past five and a half decades as new analytical methods emerged. This review combines early and recent discoveries on gene regulation and expression in mature oocytes and preimplantation stage embryos to provide a comprehensive understanding of preimplantation embryo biology and to anticipate exciting future advances that will build upon and extend what has been discovered so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith E Latham
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.,Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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A recurrent mutation in TBPL2 causes diminished ovarian reserve and female infertility. J Genet Genomics 2020; 47:785-788. [PMID: 33541821 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Kim KH, Seo YM, Kim EY, Lee SY, Kwon J, Ko JJ, Lee KA. The miR-125 family is an important regulator of the expression and maintenance of maternal effect genes during preimplantational embryo development. Open Biol 2017; 6:rsob.160181. [PMID: 27906131 PMCID: PMC5133438 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.160181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Previously, we reported that Sebox is a new maternal effect gene (MEG) that is required for early embryo development beyond the two-cell (2C) stage because this gene orchestrates the expression of important genes for zygotic genome activation (ZGA). However, regulators of Sebox expression remain unknown. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to use bioinformatics tools to identify such regulatory microRNAs (miRNAs) and to determine the effects of the identified miRNAs on Sebox expression. Using computational algorithms, we identified a motif within the 3′UTR of Sebox mRNA that is specific to the seed region of the miR-125 family, which includes miR-125a-5p, miR-125b-5p and miR-351-5p. During our search for miRNAs, we found that the Lin28a 3′UTR also contains the same binding motif for the seed region of the miR-125 family. In addition, we confirmed that Lin28a also plays a role as a MEG and affects ZGA at the 2C stage, without affecting oocyte maturation or fertilization. Thus, we provide the first report indicating that the miR-125 family plays a crucial role in regulating MEGs related to the 2C block and in regulating ZGA through methods such as affecting Sebox and Lin28a in oocytes and embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyeoung-Hwa Kim
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Pangyo, South Korea
| | - You-Mi Seo
- Department of Oral Histology-Developmental Biology, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eun-Young Kim
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Pangyo, South Korea
| | - Su-Yeon Lee
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Pangyo, South Korea
| | - Jini Kwon
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Pangyo, South Korea
| | - Jung-Jae Ko
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Pangyo, South Korea
| | - Kyung-Ah Lee
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Pangyo, South Korea
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Chen G, Tan R, Tao Q. Sebox regulates mesoderm formation in early amphibian embryos. Dev Dyn 2015; 244:1415-26. [DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2015] [Revised: 08/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Geng Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences; Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences; Beijing China
| | - Renbo Tan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences; Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences; Beijing China
| | - Qinghua Tao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences; Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences; Beijing China
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Park MW, Kim KH, Kim EY, Lee SY, Ko JJ, Lee KA. Associations among Sebox and other MEGs and its effects on early embryogenesis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0115050. [PMID: 25679966 PMCID: PMC4331730 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In a previous report, we identified Sebox as a new candidate maternal effect gene that is essential for embryonic development and primarily impacts the two-cell (2C) stage. The present study was conducted to determine the mechanism of action for Sebox in this capacity, as shown by changes in the expression levels of other known MEG mRNAs after Sebox RNA interference (RNAi) in oocytes. Sebox-knockdown metaphase II (Mll) oocytes displayed normal morphology, but among the 23 MEGs monitored, 8 genes were upregulated, and 15 genes were unchanged. We hypothesized that the perturbed gene expression of these MEGs may cause the arrest of embryo development at the 2C stage and examined the expression of several marker genes for the degradation of maternal factors and zygotic genome activation. We found that some maternal mRNAs, c-mos, Gbx2, and Gdf9, were not fully degraded in Sebox-knockdown 2C embryos, and that several zygotic genome activation markers, Mt1a, Rpl23, Ube2a and Wee1, were not fully expressed in conjunction with diminished embryonic transcriptional activity. In addition, Sebox may be involved in the formation of the subcortical maternal complex through its regulation of the upstream regulator, Figla. Therefore, we concluded that Sebox is important in preparing oocytes for embryonic development by orchestrating the expression of other important MEGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Woo Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Pangyo-Ro 335, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463–400, Korea
| | - Kyeoung-Hwa Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Pangyo-Ro 335, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463–400, Korea
| | - Eun-Young Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Pangyo-Ro 335, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463–400, Korea
| | - Su-Yeon Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Pangyo-Ro 335, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463–400, Korea
| | - Jung-Jae Ko
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Pangyo-Ro 335, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463–400, Korea
- * E-mail: (JJK); (KAL)
| | - Kyung-Ah Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Pangyo-Ro 335, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463–400, Korea
- * E-mail: (JJK); (KAL)
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Zheng Z, Zhao MH, Jia JL, Heo YT, Cui XS, Oh JS, Kim NH. Knockdown of maternal homeobox transcription factor SEBOX gene impaired early embryonic development in porcine parthenotes. J Reprod Dev 2013; 59:557-62. [PMID: 24018616 PMCID: PMC3934157 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2013-050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of germ cell-specific transcription factors essential for ovarian formation
and folliculogenesis have been identified and studied. However, the role of these
factors during early embryonic development has been poorly explored. In the present
study, we investigated the role of SEBOX, a maternal homeobox transcription factor,
during early embryonic development in porcine parthenotes. mRNA for
SEBOX is preferentially expressed in oocytes, and expression
persists until embryonic genome activation (EGA). Knockdown of SEBOX by siRNA
disrupted early embryonic development, but not oocyte maturation. Many maternal genes
essential for early embryonic development were upregulated in SEBOX-depleted embryos.
Moreover, some pluripotency-associated genes, including SOX2 and
NANOG, were upregulated when SEBOX was knocked down. Therefore,
our data demonstrate that SEBOX is required for early embryonic development in pigs
and appears to regulate the degradation of maternal transcripts and the expression of
pluripotency genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Zheng
- Department of Animal Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Korea
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