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Kumar C, Roy JK. Decoding the epigenetic mechanism of mammalian sex determination. Exp Cell Res 2024; 439:114011. [PMID: 38531506 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2024.114011] [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] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Sex determination embodies a dynamic and intricate developmental process wielding significant influence over the destiny of bipotential gonads, steering them towards male or female gonads. Gonadal differentiation and the postnatal manifestation of the gonadal phenotype involve a sophisticated interplay of transcription factors such as SOX9 and FOXL2. Central to this interplay are chromatin modifiers regulating the mutual antagonism during this interplay. In this review, the key findings and knowledge gaps in DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA-mediated control throughout mammalian gonadal development are covered. Furthermore, it explores the role of the developing brain in playing a pivotal role in the initiation of gonadogenesis and the subsequent involvement of gonadal hormone/hormone receptor in fine-tuning sexual differentiation. Based on promising facts, the role of the developing brain through the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis is explained and suggested as a novel hypothesis. The article also discusses the potential impact of ecological factors on the human epigenome in relation to sex determination and trans-generational epigenetics in uncovering novel genes and mechanisms involved in sex determination and gonadal differentiation. We have subtly emphasized the disruptions in epigenetic regulations contributing to sexual disorders, which further allows us to raise certain questions, decipher approaches for handling these questions and setting up the direction of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cash Kumar
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Jagat Kumar Roy
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
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Suvá M, Arnold VH, Wiedenmann EA, Jordan R, Galvagno E, Martínez M, Vichera GD. First sex modification case in equine cloning. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0279869. [PMID: 36598913 PMCID: PMC9812313 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is an asexual reproductive technique where cloned offspring contain the same genetic material as the original donor. Although this technique preserves the sex of the original animal, the birth of sex-reversed offspring has been reported in some species. Here, we report for the first time the birth of a female foal generated by SCNT of a male nuclear donor. After a single SCNT procedure, 16 blastocysts were obtained and transferred to eight recipient mares, resulting in the birth of two clones: one male and one female. Both animals had identical genetic profiles, as observed in the analysis of 15-horse microsatellite marker panel, which confirmed they are indeed clones of the same animal. Cytogenetic analysis and fluorescent in situ hybridization using X and Y specific probes revealed a 63,X chromosome set in the female offspring, suggesting a spontaneous Y chromosome loss. The identity of the lost chromosome in the female was further confirmed through PCR by observing the presence of X-linked markers and absence of Y-linked markers. Moreover, cytogenetic and molecular profiles were analyzed in blood and skin samples to detect a possible mosaicism in the female, but results showed identical chromosomal constitutions. Although the cause of the spontaneous chromosome loss remains unknown, the possibility of equine sex reversal by SCNT holds great potential for the preservation of endangered species, development of novel breeding techniques, and sportive purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Suvá
- Kheiron Biotech S.A., Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail: (MS); (GDV)
| | | | | | | | | | - Marcela Martínez
- Laboratorio de Genética Aplicada, Sociedad Rural Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Wakayama S, Ito D, Hayashi E, Ishiuchi T, Wakayama T. Healthy cloned offspring derived from freeze-dried somatic cells. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3666. [PMID: 35790715 PMCID: PMC9256722 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31216-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintaining biodiversity is an essential task, but storing germ cells as genetic resources using liquid nitrogen is difficult, expensive, and easily disrupted during disasters. Our aim is to generate cloned mice from freeze-dried somatic cell nuclei, preserved at -30 °C for up to 9 months after freeze drying treatment. All somatic cells died after freeze drying, and nucleic DNA damage significantly increased. However, after nuclear transfer, we produced cloned blastocysts from freeze-dried somatic cells, and established nuclear transfer embryonic stem cell lines. Using these cells as nuclear donors for re-cloning, we obtained healthy cloned female and male mice with a success rate of 0.2-5.4%. Here, we show that freeze-dried somatic cells can produce healthy, fertile clones, suggesting that this technique may be important for the establishment of alternative, cheaper, and safer liquid nitrogen-free bio-banking solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayaka Wakayama
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, 400-8510, Japan. .,Advanced Biotechnology Center, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, 400-8510, Japan.
| | - Daiyu Ito
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, 400-8510, Japan
| | - Erika Hayashi
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, 400-8510, Japan
| | - Takashi Ishiuchi
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, 400-8510, Japan
| | - Teruhiko Wakayama
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, 400-8510, Japan. .,Advanced Biotechnology Center, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, 400-8510, Japan.
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Garcia-Moreno SA, Plebanek MP, Capel B. Epigenetic regulation of male fate commitment from an initially bipotential system. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 468:19-30. [PMID: 29410272 PMCID: PMC6084468 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2018.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
A fundamental goal in biology is to understand how distinct cell types containing the same genetic information arise from a single stem cell throughout development. Sex determination is a key developmental process that requires a unidirectional commitment of an initially bipotential gonad towards either the male or female fate. This makes sex determination a unique model to study cell fate commitment and differentiation in vivo. We have focused this review on the accumulating evidence that epigenetic mechanisms contribute to the bipotential state of the fetal gonad and to the regulation of chromatin accessibility during and immediately downstream of the primary sex-determining switch that establishes the male fate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Blanche Capel
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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Jeong YH, Lu H, Park CH, Li M, Luo H, Kim JJ, Liu S, Ko KH, Huang S, Hwang IS, Kang MN, Gong D, Park KB, Choi EJ, Park JH, Jeong YW, Moon C, Hyun SH, Kim NH, Jeung EB, Yang H, Hwang WS, Gao F. Stochastic anomaly of methylome but persistent SRY hypermethylation in disorder of sex development in canine somatic cell nuclear transfer. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31088. [PMID: 27501986 PMCID: PMC4977463 DOI: 10.1038/srep31088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) provides an excellent model for studying epigenomic reprogramming during mammalian development. We mapped the whole genome and whole methylome for potential anomalies of mutations or epimutations in SCNT-generated dogs with XY chromosomal sex but complete gonadal dysgenesis, which is classified as 78, XY disorder of sex development (DSD). Whole genome sequencing revealed no potential genomic variations that could explain the pathogenesis of DSD. However, extensive but stochastic anomalies of genome-wide DNA methylation were discovered in these SCNT DSD dogs. Persistent abnormal hypermethylation of the SRY gene was observed together with its down-regulated mRNA and protein expression. Failure of SRY expression due to hypermethylation was further correlated with silencing of a serial of testis determining genes, including SOX9, SF1, SOX8, AMH and DMRT1 in an early embryonic development stage at E34 in the XY(DSD) gonad, and high activation of the female specific genes, including FOXL2, RSPO1, CYP19A1, WNT4, ERα and ERβ, after one postnatal year in the ovotestis. Our results demonstrate that incomplete demethylation on the SRY gene is the driving cause of XY(DSD) in these XY DSD dogs, indicating a central role of epigenetic regulation in sex determination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hanlin Lu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chi-Hun Park
- Sooam Biotech Research Foundation, Seoul 152-904, Korea.,Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA.,Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | | | | | - Joung Joo Kim
- Sooam Biotech Research Foundation, Seoul 152-904, Korea
| | | | - Kyeong Hee Ko
- Sooam Biotech Research Foundation, Seoul 152-904, Korea
| | | | - In Sung Hwang
- Sooam Biotech Research Foundation, Seoul 152-904, Korea
| | - Mi Na Kang
- Sooam Biotech Research Foundation, Seoul 152-904, Korea
| | - Desheng Gong
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kang Bae Park
- Sooam Biotech Research Foundation, Seoul 152-904, Korea
| | - Eun Ji Choi
- Sooam Biotech Research Foundation, Seoul 152-904, Korea
| | | | | | - Changjong Moon
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Korea
| | - Sang-Hwan Hyun
- Sooam Biotech Research Foundation, Seoul 152-904, Korea.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763, Korea
| | - Nam Hyung Kim
- College of Animal Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763, Korea
| | - Eui-Bae Jeung
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763, Korea
| | | | - Woo Suk Hwang
- Sooam Biotech Research Foundation, Seoul 152-904, Korea
| | - Fei Gao
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
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Ogura A, Inoue K, Wakayama T. Recent advancements in cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2013; 368:20110329. [PMID: 23166393 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) cloning is the sole reproductive engineering technology that endows the somatic cell genome with totipotency. Since the first report on the birth of a cloned sheep from adult somatic cells in 1997, many technical improvements in SCNT have been made by using different epigenetic approaches, including enhancement of the levels of histone acetylation in the chromatin of the reconstructed embryos. Although it will take a considerable time before we fully understand the nature of genomic programming and totipotency, we may expect that somatic cell cloning technology will soon become broadly applicable to practical purposes, including medicine, pharmaceutical manufacturing and agriculture. Here we review recent progress in somatic cell cloning, with a special emphasis on epigenetic studies using the laboratory mouse as a model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsuo Ogura
- RIKEN BioResource Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
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Thuan NV, Kishigami S, Wakayama T. How to improve the success rate of mouse cloning technology. J Reprod Dev 2010; 56:20-30. [PMID: 20203432 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.09-221a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
It has now been 13 years since the first cloned mammal Dolly the sheep was generated from somatic cells using nuclear transfer (SCNT). Since then, this technique has been considered an important tool not only for animal reproduction but also for regenerative medicine. However, the success rate is still very low and the mechanisms involved in genomic reprogramming are not yet clear. Moreover, the NT technique requires donated fresh oocyte, which raises ethical problems for production of human cloned embryo. For this reason, the use of induced pluripotent stem cells for genomic reprogramming and for regenerative medicine is currently a hot topic in this field. However, we believe that the NT approach remains the only valid way for the study of reproduction and basic biology. For example, only the NT approach can reveal dynamic and global modifications in the epigenome without using genetic modification, and it can generate offspring from a single cell or even a frozen dead body. Thanks to much hard work by many groups, cloning success rates are increasing slightly year by year, and NT cloning is now becoming a more applicable method. This review describes how to improve the efficiency of cloning, the establishment of clone-derived embryonic stem cells and further applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Van Thuan
- Department of Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, South Korea
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