BovReg RNAseq libraries of bovine blastocysts (PRJEB67996)
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: To explore direct effects of metabolic stress and indirect effects of paternal heat stress on the transcriptome of bovine embryos, in vitro produced embryos were exposed to metabolic challenges during early development (mimicking the situation in early lactating cows) or generated from sperm sampled collected under different climatic conditions (summer vs winter). This study is part of the FAANG project, specifically the EU H2020 funded project BovReg #815668, promoting rapid prepublication of data to support the research community. These data are released under Fort Lauderdale principles, as confirmed in the Toronto Statement (Toronto International Data Release Workshop. Birney et al. 2009. Pre-publication data sharing. Nature 461:168-170). Any use of this dataset must abide by the FAANG data sharing principles. Data producers reserve the right to make the first publication of a global analysis of this data. If you are unsure if you are allowed to publish on this dataset, please contact kuehn@fbn-dummerstorf.de to enquire. The full guidelines can be found at http://www.faang.org/data-share-principle”.
Project description:PURPOSE: It has recently become possible to construct cDNA libraries from individual human blastocysts to investigate the expression of embryonic genes in human preimplantation development. We have previously reported the expression of beta-actin, CD-59, and homeobox OCT-3 and identified almost-complete homology of sequences to human histone 3.1 and human ribosome protein S25. In the present paper, our further sequencing analysis of cDNA libraries from single human blastocysts is described. METHODS: cDNA libraries were constructed from 13 blastocysts. Sequence analysis was performed in 120 clones from one of these cDNA libraries with fragments of 50 to 1000 bp. Their sequence identity was analyzed using the expressed sequence tag (EST) database. RESULTS: The presence of two housekeeping genes, hexokinase I and serine/threonine phosphorylase, and four other ESTs was demonstrated, the identity of which, with particular gene expression in preimplantation development, has not yet been established. CONCLUSIONS: The data demonstrate the usefulness of constructing cDNA libraries from individual human blastocysts and their values in the analysis of genetic expression in human preimplantation development.
Project description:BackgroundUse of RNA-Seq presents unique benefits in terms of gene expression analysis because of its wide dynamic range and ability to identify functional sequence variants. This technology provides the opportunity to assay the developing embryo, but the paucity of biological material available from individual embryos has made this a challenging prospect.ResultsWe report here the first application of RNA-Seq for the analysis of individual blastocyst gene expression, SNP detection, and characterization of allele specific expression (ASE). RNA was extracted from single bovine blastocysts (n = 5), amplified, and analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. Approximately 38 million sequencing reads were generated per embryo and 9,489 known bovine genes were found to be expressed, with a high correlation of expression levels between samples (r > 0.97). Transcriptomic data was analyzed to identify SNP in expressed genes, and individual SNP were examined to characterize allele specific expression. Expressed biallelic SNP variants with allelic imbalances were observed in 473 SNP, where one allele represented between 65-95% of a variant's transcripts.ConclusionsThis study represents the first application of RNA-seq technology in single bovine embryos allowing a representation of the embryonic transcriptome and the analysis of transcript sequence variation to describe specific allele expression.
Project description:BackgroundInterleukin-6 (IL6) was recently identified as an embryotrophic factor in bovine embryos, where it acts primarily to mediate inner cell mass (ICM) size. This work explored whether IL6 affects epiblast (EPI) and primitive endoderm (PE) development, the two embryonic lineages generated from the ICM after its formation. Nuclear markers for EPI (NANOG) and PE (GATA6) were used to differentiate the two cell types.ResultsIncreases (P < 0.05) in total ICM cell numbers and PE cell numbers were detected in bovine blastocysts at day 8 and 9 post-fertilization after exposure to 100 ng/ml recombinant bovine IL6. Also, IL6 increased (P < 0.05) the number of undifferentiated ICM cells (cells containing both PE and EPI markers). The effects of IL6 on EPI cell numbers were inconsistent. Studies were also completed to explore the importance of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)-dependent signaling in bovine PE cells. Definitive activation of STAT3, a downstream target for JAK2, was observed in PE cells. Also, pharmacological inhibition of JAK2 decreased (P < 0.05) PE cell numbers.ConclusionsTo conclude, IL6 manipulates ICM development after EPI/PE cell fates are established. The PE cells are the target for IL6, where a JAK-dependent signal is used to regulate PE numbers.
Project description:BackgroundRNA sequencing has become the mainstay for studies of gene expression. Still, analysis of rare cells with random hexamer priming - to allow analysis of a broader range of transcripts - remains challenging.ResultsWe here describe a tagmentation-based, rRNA blocked, random hexamer primed RNAseq approach (T-RHEX-RNAseq) for generating stranded RNAseq libraries from very low numbers of FACS sorted cells without RNA purification steps.ConclusionT-RHEX-RNAseq provides an easy-to-use, time efficient and automation compatible method for generating stranded RNAseq libraries from rare cells.
Project description:Mammalian preimplantation development involves two lineage specifications: first, the CDX2-expressing trophectoderm (TE) and a pluripotent inner cell mass (ICM) are separated during blastocyst formation. Second, the pluripotent epiblast (EPI; expressing NANOG) and the differentiated primitive endoderm (PrE; expressing GATA6) diverge within the ICM. Studies in mice revealed that OCT4/POU5F1 is at the center of a pluripotency regulatory network. To study the role of OCT4 in bovine preimplantation development, we generated OCT4 knockout (KO) fibroblasts by CRISPR-Cas9 and produced embryos by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). SCNT embryos from nontransfected fibroblasts and embryos produced by in vitro fertilization served as controls. In OCT4 KO morulae (day 5), ∼70% of the nuclei were OCT4 positive, indicating that maternal OCT4 mRNA partially maintains OCT4 protein expression during early development. In contrast, OCT4 KO blastocysts (day 7) lacked OCT4 protein entirely. CDX2 was detected only in TE cells; OCT4 is thus not required to suppress CDX2 in the ICM. Control blastocysts showed a typical salt-and-pepper distribution of NANOG- and GATA6-positive cells in the ICM. In contrast, NANOG was absent or very faint in the ICM of OCT4 KO blastocysts, and no cells expressing exclusively NANOG were observed. This mimics findings in OCT4-deficient human blastocysts but is in sharp contrast to Oct4-null mouse blastocysts, where NANOG persists and PrE development fails. Our study supports bovine embryogenesis as a model for early human development and exemplifies a general strategy for studying the roles of specific genes in embryos of domestic species.
Project description:Although assisted reproductive technology (ART) currently exists, the only embryo preservation technology that is available is cryopreservation. In the present study, small molecules were used to hold embryos at room temperature. The basic medium for embryo holding for a short period of time at 4 °C, 10 °C and 20 °C consisted of 1% BSA non-cryopreservation medium (BNC) instead of fetal bovine serum. To maintain survival and prevent damage during embryo incubation, three candidate small molecules were selected-CHIR99021, Y-27632 and Thiazovivin-and their concentrations were optimized. The viability and hatching rate of embryos incubated at 10 °C were greater for Y-27632-BNC and CHIR99021+Y-27632-BNC compared to BNC. However, the rate was lower for Thiazovivin-BNC compared to BNC. Although there were no surviving embryos after incubation at 20 °C, the viability and hatching rate of embryos significantly increased in Y-27632-BNC and CHIR99021+Y-27632-BNC compared to BNC. The pregnancy rate of embryos incubated at 20 °C was also greater in the CHIR99021+Y-27632-BNC group compared to that in the frozen group. The mechanism by which small molecules enhance survival of embryos during incubation was investigated, and expression of heat shock protein 70 was observed to increase. The findings of this work may be useful in improving ART in the agricultural field.
Project description:Although X chromosome inactivation in female mammals evolved to balance the expression of X chromosome and autosomal genes in the two sexes, female embryos pass through developmental stages in which both X chromosomes are active in somatic cells. Bovine blastocysts show higher expression of many X genes in XX than XY embryos, suggesting that X inactivation is not complete. Here, we reanalyzed bovine blastocyst microarray expression data from a network perspective with a focus on interactions between X chromosome and autosomal genes. Whereas male-to-female ratios of expression of autosomal genes were distributed around a mean of 1, X chromosome genes were clearly shifted towards higher expression in females. We generated gene coexpression networks and identified a major module of genes with correlated gene expression that includes female-biased X genes and sexually dimorphic autosomal genes for which the sexual dimorphism is likely driven by the X genes. In this module, expression of X chromosome genes correlates with autosome genes, more than the expression of autosomal genes with each other. Our study identifies correlated patterns of autosomal and X-linked genes that are likely influenced by the sexual imbalance of X gene expression when X inactivation is inefficient.
Project description:Reprogramming incompletely occurs in most somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos, which results in misregulation of developmentally important genes and subsequent embryonic malfunction and lethality. Here we examined transcriptome profiles in single bovine blastocysts derived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and SCNT. Different types of donor cells, cumulus cell and ear-skin fibroblast, were used to derive cSCNT and fSCNT blastocysts, respectively. SCNT blastocysts expressed 13,606 genes on average, similar to IVF (13,542). Correlation analysis found that both cSCNT and fSCNT blastocyst groups had transcriptomic features distinctive from the IVF group, with the cSCNT transcriptomes closer to the IVF ones than the fSCNT. Gene expression analysis identified 56 underrepresented and 78 overrepresented differentially expressed genes in both SCNT groups. A 400-kb locus harboring zinc-finger protein family genes in chromosome 18 were found coordinately down-regulated in fSCNT blastocysts, showing a feature of reprogramming-resistant regions. Probing into different categories of genes important for blastocyst development revealed that genes involved in trophectoderm development frequently were underrepresented, and those encoding epigenetic modifiers tended to be overrepresented in SCNT blastocysts. Our effort to identify reprogramming-resistant, differentially expressed genes can help map reprogramming error-prone loci onto the genome and elucidate how to handle the stochastic events of reprogramming to improve cloning efficiency.
Project description:The objective was to characterize the transcriptome profile of in vivo-derived female embryos competent to establish and maintain gestation. Blastocysts from superovulated heifers were bisected to generate two demi-embryos. One demi-embryo was transferred into a synchronized recipient and the other part was used for RNA-seq analysis. Data on transcript abundance was analyzed for 4 demi-embryos that established and maintained pregnancy to day 60 (designated as PP) and 3 that did not result in a pregnancy at day 30 (designated as NP). Using a false discovery rate of P < 0.10 as cutoff, a total of 155 genes were differentially expressed between PP and NP embryos, of which 73 genes were upregulated and 82 genes were downregulated in the PP group. The functional cluster with the greatest enrichment score for embryos that survived, representing 28 genes (48% of the annotated genes), was related to membrane proteins, particularly those related to olfaction and neural development and function. The functional cluster with the greatest enrichment score for downregulated genes in embryos that survived included terms related to oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial function, and transmembrane proteins. In conclusion, competence of in vivo-derived female bovine embryos to survive after transfer is associated with increased expression of genes encoding transmembrane proteins, perhaps indicative of differentiation of the inner cell mass to epiblast, and decreased expression of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, perhaps indicative of reduced metabolic activity.
Project description:Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are derived from the inner cell mass of preimplantation blastocysts. From agricultural and biomedical perspectives, the derivation of stable ESCs from domestic ungulates is important for genomic testing and selection, genome engineering, and modeling human diseases. Cattle are one of the most important domestic ungulates that are commonly used for food and bioreactors. To date, however, it remains a challenge to produce stable pluripotent bovine ESC lines. Employing a culture system containing fibroblast growth factor 2 and an inhibitor of the canonical Wnt-signaling pathway, we derived pluripotent bovine ESCs (bESCs) with stable morphology, transcriptome, karyotype, population-doubling time, pluripotency marker gene expression, and epigenetic features. Under this condition bESC lines were efficiently derived (100% in optimal conditions), were established quickly (3-4 wk), and were simple to propagate (by trypsin treatment). When used as donors for nuclear transfer, bESCs produced normal blastocyst rates, thereby opening the possibility for genomic selection, genome editing, and production of cattle with high genetic value.