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Automated Micro-Volume Secretome Profiling Enables Non-Invasive Protein Analysis from Single Embryos

ABSTRACT: Cells continuously secrete proteins into the extracellular environment, forming the cellular secretome, which reflects dynamic cellular states in a biologically informative and non-invasive manner. However, conventional secretome analysis requires large sample volumes (>2 mL) , provides limited proteome depth and low throughput (<30 samples per day), thereby restricting its application. Here, we developed an automated micro-volume secretome workflow that integrates chemically modified magnetic beads with robotic liquid handling. The platform enables efficient capture of secreted proteins directly from less than 20 μL of neat conditioned medium, achieving deep secretome coverage of over 3,000 proteins and a throughput exceeding 96 samples per day with minimal perturbation to the culture system. Using this workflow, we achieved high-depth, time-resolved secretome profiling from micro-volume culture media. We also profiled single mouse embryo culture media, identifying more than 200 proteins per embryo. Notably, stage-specific embryo-secreted proteins such as Sdc4 and Ooep were detected, demonstrating the utility of this platform for both longitudinal secretome analysis and non-invasive molecular profiling at the single-embryo level.

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens Mus Musculus

SUBMITTER: Zilu Ye

PROVIDER: PXD074205 | iProX | Fri Feb 06 00:00:00 GMT 2026

REPOSITORIES: iProX

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Project description:Study question: Which non-declared proteins (proteins not listed on the composition list of the product data sheet) are present in unconditioned commercial embryo culture media? Summary answer: A total of 110 non-declared proteins were identified in unconditioned media and between 6 and 8 of these were quantifiable. What is known already: There are no data in the literature on what non-declared proteins are present in un-conditioned (fresh media in which no embryos have been cultured) commercial embryo media. Study design, size, duration: The following eight commercial embryo culture media were included in this study: G-1 PLUS and G-2 PLUS G5 Series from Vitrolife, Sydney IVF Cleavage Medium and Sydney IVF Blastocyst Medium from Cook Medical and EmbryoAssist, BlastAssist, Sequential Cleav and Sequential Blast from ORIGIO. Two batches were analysed for each of the Sydney IVF media and one batch from each of the other media. All embryo culture media are supplemented by the manufacturers with purified human serum albumin (HSA 5 mg/ml). The purified HSA (HSA-solution from Vitrolife) and the recombinant human albumin supplement (G-MM from Vitrolife) were also analysed. Participants/materials, setting, methods: For protein quantification, media samples were in-solution digested with trypsin and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). For in-depth protein identification, media were albumin depleted, dialyzed and concentrated before sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The gel was cut into 14 slices followed by in-gel trypsin digestion, and analysis by LC-MS/MS. Proteins were further investigated using gene ontology (GO) terms analysis. Main results and the role of chance: Using advanced mass spectrometry and high confidence criteria for accepting proteins (p< 0.01), a total of 110 proteins other than HSA were identified. The average serum albumin content was found to be 94% (92% - 97%) of total protein. Other individual proteins accounted for up to 4.7% of the total protein. Analysis of purified HSA strongly suggests that these non-declared proteins are introduced to the media when the albumin is added. GO analysis showed that many of these proteins have roles in defence pathways, for example 18 were associated with the innate immune response and 17 with inflammatory responses. Eight proteins have been reported previously as secreted embryo proteins. Limitations, reasons for caution: For six of the commercial embryo culture media only one batch was analyzed. However, this does not affect the overall conclusions. Wider implications of the findings: The results showed that the HSA added to IVF media contained many other proteins and that the amount varies from batch to batch. These variations in protein profiles are problematic when attempting to identify proteins derived from the embryos. Therefore, when studying the embryo secretome and analysing conditioned media with the aim of finding potential biomarkers that can distinguish normal and abnormal embryo development, it is important that the medium used in the experimental and control groups is from the same batch. Furthermore, the proteins present in un-conditioned media could potentially influence embryonic development, gestation age, birthweight and perhaps have subsequent effects on health of the offspring.

Project description:Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by cells contain mRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs, lipids, and proteins, playing crucial roles in cell-cell communication. While full-length mRNA transcripts have been documented in EVs secreted by cancer cells, there are no reports on full transcripts secreted by embryos. Our study aimed to identify extracellular vesicle mRNAs in the culture media of bovine embryos and investigate their roles in embryo-mother communication. Following the isolation of EVs from in-vitro fertilization media samples and RNA sequencing, we identified full mRNA transcripts of three genes: SLBP2, ACCSL, and DPPA3. We selected DPPA3 for further investigation. To examine the role of DPPA3 in embryo-mother communication, an in vitro transcribed mRNA of DPPA3 was transfected into bovine endometrial epithelial cells. Transfected and control cells were subsequently analyzed for RNA sequencing to assess the effects of DPPA3 on gene expression. A total of 24 genes were found to be upregulated, and one gene was downregulated (FDR < 0.01) following DPPA3 transfection. Among the 18 annotated genes, 17 have known functions in pregnancy recognition in ruminants or have been previously identified as upregulated in pregnant animals. In addition to RNA sequencing, transfected and control cells underwent proteomic analysis. A total of 34 proteins were differentially expressed (FDR < 0.01, p < 0.05, fold change > 1.5), with 19 upregulated and 15 downregulated. Two proteins, ISG15 and MX1, overlapped with the differentially expressed mRNAs. To mimic the natural transfer of EVs from embryos to endometrial cells, we performed co-culture of day 8 blastocysts or supplemented the cells with embryo-conditioned culture media. DPPA3 expression was detected in endometrial cells exposed to embryo-conditioned media after just 30 minutes, with slight upregulation of ISG15 and MX1 also observed. The expression of these classic interferon-stimulated genes in endometrial cells increased from 0.5 to 10 hours when exposed to blastocysts or embryo-conditioned media. Overall, these results demonstrate that DPPA3 mRNA secreted from embryos may play a role in early embryo-mother communication and maternal recognition of pregnancy prior to major interferon tau secretion. Importantly, our study highlights the significant role of EVs in cell-cell communication through mRNA signaling from the embryo to the mother.

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Automated Micro-Volume Secretome Profiling Enables Non-Invasive Protein Analysis from Single Embryos

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