Project description:Oocyte maturation is accompanied by a transition from mRNA stability to instability. We investigated the role of DCP1A and DCP2, proteins responsible for mRNA decapping, in mRNA destabilization during mouse oocyte maturation. siRNA-mediated knockdown of both Dcp1a and Dcp2 transcripts prior to initiation of maturation inhibited the maturation-associated increase of DCP1A and DCP2, stabilized a set of maternal mRNAs that are normally degraded during maturation, and inhibited development beyond the 2-cell stage, likely a consequence of failure to activate fully the zygotic genome. Total RNA from 30 MII eggs was used in each sample. Three independent biological replicates were analyzed for each condition.
Project description:Oocyte maturation is accompanied by a transition from mRNA stability to instability. We investigated the role of DCP1A and DCP2, proteins responsible for mRNA decapping, in mRNA destabilization during mouse oocyte maturation. siRNA-mediated knockdown of both Dcp1a and Dcp2 transcripts prior to initiation of maturation inhibited the maturation-associated increase of DCP1A and DCP2, stabilized a set of maternal mRNAs that are normally degraded during maturation, and inhibited development beyond the 2-cell stage, likely a consequence of failure to activate fully the zygotic genome.
Project description:PURPOSE: To provide a detailed gene expression profile of the normal postnatal mouse cornea. METHODS: Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) was performed on postnatal day (PN)9 and adult mouse (6 week) total corneas. The expression of selected genes was analyzed by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: A total of 64,272 PN9 and 62,206 adult tags were sequenced. Mouse corneal transcriptomes are composed of at least 19,544 and 18,509 unique mRNAs, respectively. One third of the unique tags were expressed at both stages, whereas a third was identified exclusively in PN9 or adult corneas. Three hundred thirty-four PN9 and 339 adult tags were enriched more than fivefold over other published nonocular libraries. Abundant transcripts were associated with metabolic functions, redox activities, and barrier integrity. Three members of the Ly-6/uPAR family whose functions are unknown in the cornea constitute more than 1% of the total mRNA. Aquaporin 5, epithelial membrane protein and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) omega-1, and GST alpha-4 mRNAs were preferentially expressed in distinct corneal epithelial layers, providing new markers for stratification. More than 200 tags were differentially expressed, of which 25 mediate transcription. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to providing a detailed profile of expressed genes in the PN9 and mature mouse cornea, the present SAGE data demonstrate dynamic changes in gene expression after eye opening and provide new probes for exploring corneal epithelial cell stratification, development, and function and for exploring the intricate relationship between programmed and environmentally induced gene expression in the cornea. Keywords: other