1
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Lei L, Ikami K, Diaz Miranda EA, Ko S, Wilson F, Abbott H, Pandoy R, Jin S. The mouse Balbiani body regulates primary oocyte quiescence via RNA storage. Commun Biol 2024; 7:1247. [PMID: 39358443 PMCID: PMC11447053 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06900-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
In mammalian females, the transition from dormancy in primordial follicles to follicular development is critical for maintaining ovarian function and reproductive longevity. In mice, the quiescent primary oocyte of the primordial follicle contains a Balbiani body (B-body), an organelle aggregate comprised of a spherical structure of Golgi complexes. Here we show that the structure of the B-body is maintained by microtubules and actin. The B-body stores mRNA-capping enzyme and 597 mRNAs associated with mRNA-decapping enzyme 1 A (DCP1A). Gene ontology analysis results indicate that proteins encoded by these mRNAs function in enzyme binding, cellular component organization and packing of telomere ends. Pharmacological depolymerization of microtubules or actin led to B-body disassociation and nascent protein synthesis around the dissociated B-bodies within three hours. An increased number of activated developing follicles were observed in ovaries with prolonged culture and the in vivo mouse model. Our results indicate that the mouse B-body is involved in the activation of dormant primordial follicles likely via translation of the B-body-associated RNAs in primary oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Lei
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
- Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
| | - Kanako Ikami
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, 94949, USA
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Edgar Andres Diaz Miranda
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Sooah Ko
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Faith Wilson
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Haley Abbott
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Ronald Pandoy
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, 94949, USA
| | - Shiying Jin
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
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2
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Wu H, Wang Y, Li J, Qin Y, Chen M, Shen Z, Dong F, Cui X, Liu L, Xu Z, Gao F. cTAGE5 is involved in the assembly of Golgi ring in mouse primordial follicle. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2024:S2095-9273(24)00652-2. [PMID: 39358110 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2024.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Haowei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yaqing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jiayi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yan Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Min Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zhiming Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Fangfang Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiuhong Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Liang Liu
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.
| | - Zhiheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Fei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
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3
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Varga I, Hammer N, Pavlíková L, Poilliot A, Klein M, Mikušová R. Terminological discrepancies and novelties in the histological description of the female genital system: proposed amendments for clinical-translational anatomy. Anat Sci Int 2024; 99:469-480. [PMID: 38683308 PMCID: PMC11303487 DOI: 10.1007/s12565-024-00772-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Histological terminology of the female genital organs is currently a part of the internationally accepted nomenclature Terminologia Histologica (TH), the latest edition of which dates back to 2008. Many new discoveries have been documented within 16 years since then, and many discrepancies have been found. This paper aims to revise the terminology from clinical and educational perspectives comprehensively. The authors thoroughly searched the current edition of "Terminologia Histologica: International Terms for Human Cytology and Histology," focusing on missing and controversial terms in the chapter Female genital system. The authors identified six controversial and ambiguous terms and four missing important histological terms. The authors also discussed the addition of less used eponymic terms in the histological description of female genital organs like Hamperl cells, Popescu cells, Kroemer lacunae, Balbiani bodies, Call-Exner bodies, membrane of Slavianski, nabothian cysts, or anogenital sweat glands of van der Putte. We expect the second and revised edition of the TH to be published soon and hope that the Federative International Program on Anatomical Terminology will approve and incorporate all these propositions and suggestions. We also strongly recommend using the official internationally accepted Latin and English histological nomenclature-the TH, either in oral or written form, both in theoretical and clinical medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Varga
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Spitalska Street 24, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
| | - Niels Hammer
- Division of Macroscopic and Clinical Anatomy, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Medical Branch, Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (IWU), Chemnitz, Germany
| | - Lada Pavlíková
- Faculty of Health Care Studies, University of Western Bohemia, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Amelie Poilliot
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Klein
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Spitalska Street 24, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Renáta Mikušová
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Spitalska Street 24, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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4
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Divyanshi, Yang J. Germ plasm dynamics during oogenesis and early embryonic development in Xenopus and zebrafish. Mol Reprod Dev 2024; 91:e23718. [PMID: 38126950 PMCID: PMC11190040 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Specification of the germline and its segregation from the soma mark one of the most crucial events in the lifetime of an organism. In different organisms, this specification can occur through either inheritance or inductive mechanisms. In species such as Xenopus and zebrafish, the specification of primordial germ cells relies on the inheritance of maternal germline determinants that are synthesized and sequestered in the germ plasm during oogenesis. In this review, we discuss the formation of the germ plasm, how germline determinants are recruited into the germ plasm during oogenesis, and the dynamics of the germ plasm during oogenesis and early embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divyanshi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
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5
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Pamula MC, Lehmann R. How germ granules promote germ cell fate. Nat Rev Genet 2024:10.1038/s41576-024-00744-8. [PMID: 38890558 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-024-00744-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Germ cells are the only cells in the body capable of giving rise to a new organism, and this totipotency hinges on their ability to assemble membraneless germ granules. These specialized RNA and protein complexes are hallmarks of germ cells throughout their life cycle: as embryonic germ granules in late oocytes and zygotes, Balbiani bodies in immature oocytes, and nuage in maturing gametes. Decades of developmental, genetic and biochemical studies have identified protein and RNA constituents unique to germ granules and have implicated these in germ cell identity, genome integrity and gamete differentiation. Now, emerging research is defining germ granules as biomolecular condensates that achieve high molecular concentrations by phase separation, and it is assigning distinct roles to germ granules during different stages of germline development. This organization of the germ cell cytoplasm into cellular subcompartments seems to be critical not only for the flawless continuity through the germline life cycle within the developing organism but also for the success of the next generation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ruth Lehmann
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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6
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Sekula M, Tworzydlo W, Bilinski SM. Balbiani body of basal insects is potentially involved in multiplication and selective elimination of mitochondria. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8263. [PMID: 38594333 PMCID: PMC11004008 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58997-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Oocytes of both vertebrates and invertebrates often contain an intricate organelle assemblage, termed the Balbiani body (Bb). It has previously been suggested that this assemblage is involved in the delivery of organelles and macromolecules to the germ plasm, formation of oocyte reserve materials, and transfer of mitochondria to the next generation. To gain further insight into the function of the Bb, we performed a series of analyses and experiments, including computer-aided 3-dimensional reconstructions, detection of DNA (mtDNA) synthesis as well as immunolocalization studies. We showed that in orthopteran Meconema meridionale, the Bb comprises a network of mitochondria and perinuclear nuage aggregations. As oogenesis progresses, the network expands filling almost entire ooplasm, then partitions into several smaller entities, termed micro-networks, and ultimately into individual mitochondria. As in somatic cells, this process involves microfilaments and elements of endoplasmic reticulum. We showed also that at least some of the individual mitochondria are surrounded by phagophores and eliminated via mitophagy. These findings support the idea that the Bb is implicated in the multiplication and selective elimination of (defective) mitochondria and therefore may participate in the transfer of undamaged (healthy) mitochondria to the next generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Sekula
- Department of Developmental Biology and Invertebrate Morphology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387, Kraków, Poland.
| | - Waclaw Tworzydlo
- Department of Developmental Biology and Invertebrate Morphology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387, Kraków, Poland
| | - Szczepan M Bilinski
- Department of Developmental Biology and Invertebrate Morphology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387, Kraków, Poland.
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7
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Bahety D, Böke E, Rodríguez-Nuevo A. Mitochondrial morphology, distribution and activity during oocyte development. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2024:S1043-2760(24)00064-X. [PMID: 38599901 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2024.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Mitochondria have a crucial role in cellular function and exhibit remarkable plasticity, adjusting both their structure and activity to meet the changing energy demands of a cell. Oocytes, female germ cells that become eggs, undergo unique transformations: the extended dormancy period, followed by substantial increase in cell size and subsequent maturation involving the segregation of genetic material for the next generation, present distinct metabolic challenges necessitating varied mitochondrial adaptations. Recent findings in dormant oocytes challenged the established respiratory complex hierarchies and underscored the extent of mitochondrial plasticity in long-lived oocytes. In this review, we discuss mitochondrial adaptations observed during oocyte development across three vertebrate species (Xenopus, mouse, and human), emphasising current knowledge, acknowledging limitations, and outlining future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devesh Bahety
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elvan Böke
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Aida Rodríguez-Nuevo
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
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8
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Zaffagnini G, Cheng S, Salzer MC, Pernaute B, Duran JM, Irimia M, Schuh M, Böke E. Mouse oocytes sequester aggregated proteins in degradative super-organelles. Cell 2024; 187:1109-1126.e21. [PMID: 38382525 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Oocytes are among the longest-lived cells in the body and need to preserve their cytoplasm to support proper embryonic development. Protein aggregation is a major threat for intracellular homeostasis in long-lived cells. How oocytes cope with protein aggregation during their extended life is unknown. Here, we find that mouse oocytes accumulate protein aggregates in specialized compartments that we named endolysosomal vesicular assemblies (ELVAs). Combining live-cell imaging, electron microscopy, and proteomics, we found that ELVAs are non-membrane-bound compartments composed of endolysosomes, autophagosomes, and proteasomes held together by a protein matrix formed by RUFY1. Functional assays revealed that in immature oocytes, ELVAs sequester aggregated proteins, including TDP-43, and degrade them upon oocyte maturation. Inhibiting degradative activity in ELVAs leads to the accumulation of protein aggregates in the embryo and is detrimental for embryo survival. Thus, ELVAs represent a strategy to safeguard protein homeostasis in long-lived cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Zaffagnini
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Shiya Cheng
- Department of Meiosis, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marion C Salzer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Barbara Pernaute
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel Duran
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Irimia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Melina Schuh
- Department of Meiosis, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elvan Böke
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
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9
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Udagawa O. Oocyte Health and Quality: Implication of Mitochondria-related Organelle Interactions. Results Probl Cell Differ 2024; 73:25-42. [PMID: 39242373 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-62036-2_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Among factors like hormonal imbalance and uterine condition, oocyte quality is regarded as one of the key factors involved in age-related decline in the reproductive capacity. Here, are discussions about the functions played by organelles within the oocyte in forming the next generation that is more suitable for survival. Many insights on the adaptation to aging and maintenance of quality can be obtained from: interactions between mitochondria and other organelles that enable the long life of primordial oocytes; characteristics of organelle interactions after breaking dormancy from primary oocytes to mature oocytes; and characteristics of interactions between mitochondria and other organelles of aged oocytes collected during the ovulatory cycle from elderly individuals and animals. This information would potentially be beneficial to the development of future therapeutic methods or agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osamu Udagawa
- Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
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10
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Amin R, Bukulmez O, Woodruff JB. Visualization of Balbiani Body disassembly during human primordial follicle activation. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2023; 2023:10.17912/micropub.biology.000989. [PMID: 37920272 PMCID: PMC10618801 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Dormant human oocytes contain a perinuclear super-organelle, called the Balbiani Body, which is not present in mature oocytes. Here, we use confocal imaging to visualize two Balbiani Body markers-mitochondria and the DEAD-box helicase DDX4-in preantral follicles isolated from a 20-year-old female patient. In primordial follicles, mitochondria were concentrated in a ring near the oocyte nucleus, while DDX4 formed adjacent micron-scale spherical condensates. In primary and secondary follicles, the mitochondria were dispersed throughout the oocyte cytoplasm, and large DDX4 condensates were not visible. Our data suggest that the Balbiani Body breaks down during the primordial to primary follicle transition, thus releasing mitochondria and soluble DDX4 protein into the oocyte cytoplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchi Amin
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Orhan Bukulmez
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Jeffrey B. Woodruff
- Cell Biology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
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11
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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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12
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Thomas L, Putnam A, Folkmann A. Germ granules in development. Development 2023; 150:286764. [PMID: 36715566 PMCID: PMC10165536 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
A hallmark of all germ cells is the presence of germ granules: assemblies of proteins and RNA that lack a delineating membrane and are proposed to form via condensation. Germ granules across organisms share several conserved components, including factors required for germ cell fate determination and maintenance, and are thought to be linked to germ cell development. The molecular functions of germ granules, however, remain incompletely understood. In this Development at a Glance article, we survey germ granules across organisms and developmental stages, and highlight emerging themes regarding granule regulation, dynamics and proposed functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Thomas
- HHMI and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Andrea Putnam
- HHMI and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Andrew Folkmann
- HHMI and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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13
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Rodríguez-Nuevo A, Torres-Sanchez A, Duran JM, De Guirior C, Martínez-Zamora MA, Böke E. Oocytes maintain ROS-free mitochondrial metabolism by suppressing complex I. Nature 2022; 607:756-761. [PMID: 35859172 PMCID: PMC9329100 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04979-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Oocytes form before birth and remain viable for several decades before fertilization1. Although poor oocyte quality accounts for most female fertility problems, little is known about how oocytes maintain cellular fitness, or why their quality eventually declines with age2. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced as by-products of mitochondrial activity are associated with lower rates of fertilization and embryo survival3-5. Yet, how healthy oocytes balance essential mitochondrial activity with the production of ROS is unknown. Here we show that oocytes evade ROS by remodelling the mitochondrial electron transport chain through elimination of complex I. Combining live-cell imaging and proteomics in human and Xenopus oocytes, we find that early oocytes exhibit greatly reduced levels of complex I. This is accompanied by a highly active mitochondrial unfolded protein response, which is indicative of an imbalanced electron transport chain. Biochemical and functional assays confirm that complex I is neither assembled nor active in early oocytes. Thus, we report a physiological cell type without complex I in animals. Our findings also clarify why patients with complex-I-related hereditary mitochondrial diseases do not experience subfertility. Complex I suppression represents an evolutionarily conserved strategy that allows longevity while maintaining biological activity in long-lived oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Rodríguez-Nuevo
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ariadna Torres-Sanchez
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan M Duran
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristian De Guirior
- Gynaecology Department, Institute Clinic of Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Angeles Martínez-Zamora
- Gynaecology Department, Institute Clinic of Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elvan Böke
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
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14
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Umeno K, Sasaki A, Kimura N. The impact of oocyte death on mouse primordial follicle formation and ovarian reserve. Reprod Med Biol 2022; 21:e12489. [PMID: 36329711 PMCID: PMC9623396 DOI: 10.1002/rmb2.12489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ovaries, the source of oocytes, maintain the numbers of primordial follicles, develop oocytes for fertilization and embryonic development. Although it is well known that about two-thirds of oocytes are lost during the formation of primordial follicles through cyst fragmentation and the aggregation of oocytes within the cyst, the mechanism responsible for this remains unclear. Methods We provide an overview of cell death that is associated with the oocyte cyst breakdown and primordial follicle assembly along with our recent findings for mice that had been treated with a TNFα ligand inhibitor. Main Findings It is generally accepted that apoptosis is the major mechanism responsible for the depletion of germ cells. In fact, a gene deficiency or the overexpression of apoptosis regulators can have a great effect on follicle numbers and/or fertility. Apoptosis, however, may not be the only cause of the large-scale oocyte attrition during oocyte cyst breakdown, and other mechanisms, such as aggregation, may also be involved in this process. Conclusion The continued study of oocyte death during primordial follicle formation could lead to the development of novel strategies for manipulating the primordial follicle pool, leading to improved fertility by enhancing the ovarian reserve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Umeno
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Graduate School of Agricultural ScienceYamagata UniversityTsuruokaJapan
| | - Ayana Sasaki
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Graduate School of Agricultural ScienceYamagata UniversityTsuruokaJapan
| | - Naoko Kimura
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Graduate School of Agricultural ScienceYamagata UniversityTsuruokaJapan
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