Tet3 is required for normal in vitro fertilization preimplantation embryos development of bovine

DNA methylation is a central epigenetic event that regulates cellular differentiation, reprogramming, and pathogenesis. DNA demethylation occurs in preimplantation embryos and primordial germ cells. Recent studies suggest that TET3‐mediated oxidation of 5‐methylcytosine (5‐mC) contributes to genome‐wide loss of DNA methylation, yet the mechanism of this process in bovine preimplanted embryos has remained unknown. In this study, we analyzed the expression of Tet gene family at different stages of embryo development. The results revealed that Tet3 was highly expressed in bovine oocytes and in vitro fertilization preimplantation embryos. Knockdown of Tet3 by injection of siRNA in germinal vesicle oocytes was used to assess its role in epigenetic remodeling and embryo development. The results showed that knockdown of Tet3 significantly inhibited oocyte development, maturation, fertilization, and decreased subsequently cleavage and blastocyst rates. Tet3 knockdown significantly increased 5‐mC levels, whereas the 5‐hmC levels slightly declined. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction data showed that expression levels of the pluripotency genes (POU5F1 and NANOG) were significantly decreased, but the imprinted gene H19 did not change in the Tet3 knockdown group. In addition, some pluripotency genes (POU5F1 and NANOG) and repeated elements (satellite I and α‐satellite) promoter regions showed hypermethylation in the Tet3 knockdown group, except the imprinted gene H19. Furthermore, the percentage of apoptotic cells and the expression levels of the proapoptotic gene BAX were significantly increased, whereas the antiapoptotic gene BCL‐2 messenger RNA levels were decreased in the Tet3 knockdown group. Our results indicated that Tet3 could influence the expression level of the pluripotency genes through regulating the methylation status of the promoter region, thus affect embryonic development.     

Atypical GATA protein TRPS1 plays indispensable roles in mouse two-cell embryo

Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is one of the most critical events at the beginning of mammalian preimplantation embryo development (PED). The mechanisms underlying mouse ZGA remain unclear although it has been widely studied. In the present study, we identified that tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome 1 (TRPS1), an atypical GATA family member, is an important factor for ZGA in mouse PED. We found that the Trps1 mRNA level peaked at the one-cell stage while TRPS1 protein did so at the two/four-cell stage. Knockdown of Trps1 by the microinjection of Trps1 siRNA reduced the developmental rate of mouse preimplantation embryos by approximately 30%, and increased the expression of ZGA marker genes MuERV-L and Zscan4d via suppressing the expression of major histone markers H3K4me3 and H3K27me3. Furthermore, Trps1 knockdown decreased the expression of Sox2 but increased Oct4 expression. We conclude that TRPS1 may be indispensable for zygotic genome activation during mouse PED.     

Global analysis of canola genes targeted by SHORT HYPOCOTYL UNDER BLUE 1 during endosperm and embryo development

Seed development in dicots includes early endosperm proliferation followed by growth of the embryo to replace the endosperm. Endosperm proliferation in dicots not only provides nutrient supplies for subsequent embryo development but also enforces a space limitation, influencing final seed size. Overexpression of Arabidopsis SHORT HYPOCOTYL UNDER BLUE1::uidA (SHB1:uidA) in canola produces large seeds. We performed global analysis of the canola genes that were expressed and influenced by SHB1 during early endosperm proliferation at 8 days after pollination (DAP) and late embryo development at 13 DAP. Overexpression of SHB1 altered the expression of 973 genes at 8 DAP and 1035 genes at 13 DAP. We also surveyed the global SHB1 association sites, and merging of these sites with the RNA sequencing data identified a set of canola genes targeted by SHB1. The 8‐DAP list includes positive and negative genes that influence endosperm proliferation and are homologous to Arabidopsis MINI3, IKU2, SHB1, AGL62, FIE and AP2. We revealed a major role for SHB1 in canola endosperm development based on the dynamics of SHB1‐altered gene expression, the magnitude of SHB1 chromatin immunoprecipitation enrichment and the over‐representation of eight regulatory genes for endosperm development. Our studies focus on an important agronomic trait in a major crop for global agriculture. The datasets on stage‐specific and SHB1‐induced gene expression and genes targeted by SHB1 also provide a useful resource in the field of endosperm development and seed size engineering. Our practices in an allotetraploid species will impact similar studies in other crop species.     

Epigenetic Functions of Smchd1 Repress Gene Clusters on the Inactive X Chromosome and on Autosomes

The Smchd1 gene encodes a large protein with homology to the SMC family of proteins involved in chromosome condensation and cohesion. Previous studies have found that Smchd1 has an important role in CpG island (CGI) methylation on the inactive X chromosome (Xi) and in stable silencing of some Xi genes. In this study, using genome-wide expression analysis, we showed that Smchd1 is required for the silencing of around 10% of the genes on Xi, apparently independent of CGI hypomethylation, and, moreover, that these genes nonrandomly occur in clusters. Additionally, we found that Smchd1 is required for CpG island methylation and silencing at a cluster of four imprinted genes in the Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) locus on chromosome 7 and genes from the protocadherin-alpha and -beta clusters. All of the affected autosomal loci display developmentally regulated brain-specific methylation patterns which are lost in Smchd1 homozygous mutants. We discuss the implications of these findings for understanding the function of Smchd1 in epigenetic regulation of gene expression.     

Roles of ERα during mouse trophectoderm lineage differentiation: revealed by antagonist and agonist of ERα

During mouse early embryogenesis, blastomeres increase in number by the morula stage. Among them, the outer cells are polarized and differentiated into trophectoderm (TE), while the inner cells remain unpolarized and give rise to inner cell mass (ICM). TE provides an important liquid environment for ICM development. In spite of extensive research, the molecular mechanisms underlying TE formation are still obscure. In order to investigate the roles of estrogen receptor α (ERα) in this course, mouse 8‐cell embryos were collected and cultured in media containing ERα specific antagonist MPP and/or agonist PPT. The results indicated that MPP treatment inhibits blastocyst formation in a dose‐dependent manner, while PPT, at proper concentration, promotes the cavitation ratio of mouse embryos. Immunofluorescence staining results showed that MPP significantly decreased the nuclear expression of CDX2 in morula, but no significant changes of OCT4 were observed. Moreover, after MPP treatment, the expression levels of the genes related to TE specification, Tead4, Gata3 and Cdx2, were significantly reduced. Overall, these results indicated that ERα might affect mouse embryo cavitation by regulating TE lineage differentiation.     

Role of GhHDA5 in H3K9 deacetylation and fiber initiation in Gossypium hirsutum

Cotton fibers are single‐celled trichomes that initiate from the epidermal cells of the ovules at or before anthesis. Here, we identified that the histone deacetylase (HDAC ) activity is essential for proper cotton fiber initiation. We further identified 15 HDAC s homoeologs in each of the A‐ and D‐subgenomes of Gossypium hirsutum . Few of these HDAC homoeologs expressed preferentially during the early stages of fiber development [?1, 0 and 6 days post‐anthesis (DPA )]. Among them, GhHDA 5 expressed significantly at the time of fiber initiation (?1 and 0 DPA). The in vitro assay for HDAC activity indicated that GhHDA 5 primarily deacetylates H3K9 acetylation marks. Moreover, the reduced expression of GhHDA 5 also suppresses fiber initiation and lint yield in the RNA interference (RNA i) lines. The 0 DPA ovules of GhHDA 5 RNA i lines also showed alterations in reactive oxygen species homeostasis and elevated autophagic cell death in the developing fibers. The differentially expressed genes (DEG s) identified through RNA ‐seq of RNA i line (DEP 12) and their pathway analysis showed that GhHDA 5 modulates expression of many stress and development‐related genes involved in fiber development. The reduced expression of GhHDA 5 in the RNA i lines also resulted in H3K9 hyper‐acetylation on the promoter region of few DEG s assessed by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. The positively co‐expressed genes with GhHDA 5 showed cumulative higher expression during fiber initiation, and gene ontology annotation suggests their involvement in fiber development. Furthermore, the predicted protein interaction network in the positively co‐expressed genes indicates HDA 5 modulates fiber initiation‐specific gene expression through a complex involving reported repressors.     

NMDA receptors on zebrafish Mauthner cells require CaMKII‐α for normal development

Calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase 2 (CaMKII) is a multifunctional protein that is highly enriched in the synapse. It plays important roles in neuronal functions such as synaptic plasticity, synaptogenesis, and neural development. Gene duplication in zebrafish has resulted in the occurrence of seven CaMKII genes (camk2a, camk2b1, camk2b2, camk2g1, camk2g2, camk2d1, and camk2d2) that are developmentally expressed. In this study, we used single cell, real‐time quantitative PCR to investigate the expression of CaMKII genes in individual Mauthner cells (M‐cells) of 2 days post fertilization (dpf) zebrafish embryos. We found that out of seven different CaMKII genes, only the mRNA for CaMKII‐α was expressed in the M‐cell at detectable levels, while all other isoforms were undetectable. Morpholino knockdown of CaMKII‐α had no significant effect on AMPA synaptic currents (mEPSCs) but decreased the amplitude of NMDA mEPSCs. NMDA events exhibited a biexponential decay with τ_fast ≈ 30 ms and τ_slow ≈ 300 ms. Knockdown of CaMKII‐α specifically reduced the amplitude of the slow component of the NMDA‐mediated currents (mEPSCs), without affecting the fast component, the frequency, or the kinetics of the mEPSCs. Immunolabelling of the M‐cell showed increased dendritic arborizations in the morphants compared with controls, and knockdown of CaMKII‐α altered locomotor behaviors of touch responses. These results suggest that CaMKII‐α is present in embryonic M‐cells and that it plays a role in the normal development of excitatory synapses. Our findings pave the way for determining the function of specific CaMKII isoforms during the early stages of M‐cell development. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 75: 145–162, 2015     

MiRNA‐145‐5p prevents differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells by regulating expression of myelin gene regulatory factor

The roles of specific microRNAs (miRNA) in oligodendrocyte (OL) differentiation have been studied in depth. However, miRNAs in OL precursors and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) have been less extensively investigated. MiR‐145‐5p is highly expressed in OPCs relative to differentiating OLs, suggesting this miRNA may serve a function specifically in OPCs. Knockdown of miR‐145‐5p in primary OPCs led to spontaneous differentiation, as evidenced by an increased proportion of MAG⁺ cells, increased cell ramification, and upregulation of multiple myelin genes including MYRF, TPPP, and MAG, and OL cell cycle exit marker Cdkn1c. Supporting this transition to a differentiating state, proliferation was reduced in miR‐145‐5p knockdown OPCs. Further, knockdown of miR‐145‐5p in differentiating OLs showed enhanced differentiation, with increased branching, myelin membrane production, and myelin gene expression. We identified several OL‐specific genes targeted by miR‐145‐5p that exhibited upregulation with miR‐145‐5p knockdown, including myelin gene regulatory factor (MYRF), that could be regulating the prodifferentiation phenotype in both miR‐145 knockdown OPCs and OLs. Indeed, spontaneous differentiation with knockdown of miR‐145‐5p was fully rescued by concurrent knockdown of MYRF. However, proliferation rate was only partially rescued with MYRF knockdown, and overexpression of miR‐145‐5p in OPCs increased proliferation rate without affecting expression of already lowly expressed differentiation genes. Taken together, these data suggest that in OPCs miR‐145‐5p both prevents differentiation at least in part by preventing expression of MYRF and promotes proliferation via as‐yet‐unidentified mechanisms. These findings clarify the need for differential regulation of miR‐145‐5p between OPCs and OLs and may have further implications in demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis where miR‐145‐5p is dysregulated.     

NEK5 regulates cell cycle progression during mouse oocyte maturation and preimplantation embryonic development

NEK5, a member of never in mitosis‐gene A‐related protein kinase, is involved in the regulation of centrosome integrity and centrosome cohesion at mitosis in somatic cells. In this study, we investigated the expression and function of NEK5 during mouse oocyte maturation and preimplantation embryonic development. The results showed that NEK5 was expressed from germinal vesicle (GV) to metaphase II (MII) stages during oocyte maturation with the highest level of expression at the GV stage. It was shown that NEK5 localized in the cytoplasm of oocytes at GV stage, concentrated around chromosomes at germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) stage, and localized to the entire spindle at prometaphase I, MI and MII stages. The small interfering RNA‐mediated depletion of Nek5 significantly increased the phosphorylation level of cyclin‐dependent kinase 1 in oocytes, resulting in a decrease of maturation‐promoting factor activity, and severely impaired GVBD. The failure of meiotic resumption caused by Nek5 depletion could be rescued by the depletion of Wee1B. We found that Nek5 depletion did not affect CDC25B translocation into the GV. We also found that NEK5 was expressed from 1‐cell to blastocyst stages with the highest expression at the blastocyst stage, and Nek5 depletion severely impaired preimplantation embryonic development. This study demonstrated for the first time that NEK5 plays important roles during meiotic G2/M transition and preimplantation embryonic development.     

Cdx1::Cre allele for gene analysis in the extraembryonic ectoderm and the three germ layers of mice at mid‐gastrulation

Transgenic mice with a defined cell‐ or tissues‐specific expression of Cre‐recombinase are essential tools to study gene function. Here we report the generation and analysis of a transgenic mouse line (Cdx1::Cre) with restricted Cre‐expression from Cdx1 regulatory elements. The expression of Cre‐recombinase mimicked the endogenous expression pattern of Cdx1 at midgastrulation (from E7.5 to early headfold stage) inducing recombination in the three germlayers of the primitive streak region throughout the posterior embryo and caudal to the heart. This enables gene modifications to investigate patterning of the caudal embryo during and after gastrulation. Interestingly, we identified Cdx1 expression in the trophectoderm (TE) of blastocyst stage embryos. Concordantly, we detected extensive Cre‐mediated recombination in the polar TE and, although to lesser extent, in the mural TE. In E7.5 postimplantation embryos, almost all cells of the extraembryonic ectoderm (ExE), which are derived from the polar TE, are recombined although the ExE itself is negative for Cdx1 and Cre at this stage. These results indicate that Cdx1::Cre mice are also a valuable tool to study gene function in tissues essential for placental development. genesis 47:204–209, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.